A sensational hundred by Dafabet Warriors batter Patrick Kruger helped claim a remarkable four-wicket win in their CSA One-Day Cup clash against the DP World Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.

Chasing 331 for victory, Kruger, who came to the crease at 99/5, clubbed the Lions bowlers to all parts of the ground, scoring 135 off 90 balls [19 x 4s and 2x6s] as the Gqeberha side opened their account in this year's edition of the tournament.

Kruger shared a record 166-run partnership with Beyers Swanepoel 69 off 53 [4x4s and 2x6s] for the seventh wicket, taking the Warriors over the line with four deliveries to spare.

The win sees the Warriors jump to third in the standings ahead of their clash against the Momentum Multiply Titans in Gqeberha on Sunday, while the Lions' task of defending their ODC crown became a lot harder having lost three of the four games they have played so far.

The Warriors started the chase dreadfully, as Duanne Olivier claimed three wickets inside eight overs with just 40 runs on the board.

He removed Jiveshan Pillay for a two-ball duck in the second over, Jordan Hermann [15] in the sixth over and skipper Matthew Breetzke (4) in the eighth over.

Tristan Stubbs and Sinethemba Qeshile trodded along as the Warriors reached the end of the 15th over on 63/3 as the former hit 10 runs from two balls to move to 24, but fell a ball later when Malusi Siboto had him caught behind by Rickelton.

Andile Mokgakane [12] fell when Van Buuren caught him for Siboto's second as the Warriors stumbled to 99 with five wickets down.

Qeshile and Patrick Kruger combined to take the Warriors to 153/5, bringing up the first 50 partnership in the innings.

The wicketkeeper-batsman struck two boundaries to move to 54 before he was caught by Fortuin off Magala for his first scalp of the match.

Kruger went past 50 as he and Swanepoel took the Warriors to 200.

He continued to take on the Lions bowlers and saw them reach 50 for the seventh wicket to keep the Warriors in the hunt as they crossed 250.

The right hander brought up a sensational ton off 67 balls, including 14 boundaries and two sixes, as another boundary saw them reach 102 in the partnership.

Needing 38 runs from the last five overs, Swanepoel brought up his half-century with a single as the pair remained patient to take their side home.

Olivier finished with 2-40 from eight overs, while Siboto claimed 2-51 in 9.2 and Magala 1-53.

TRIO OF HALF-CENTURIES FOR LIONS

Earlier, half centuries by DP World Lions batters Dominic Hendricks, Joshua Richards and Ryan Rickelton saw the home side post a competitive 330/7 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Hendricks smashed 92 runs from 78 balls including a dozen boundaries while Richards hitting a breezy 76 off 79 as Rickelton hit 50 off 51 as they ripped through the Warriors bowling attack.

Richards and Rickelton taking their side past the century mark in the 15th over.

Rickelton was the first wicket to fall when he skied a Patrick Kruger slower ball which was caught by skipper Matthew Breetzke for 50, including five boundaries and a six with the team total on 119.

The Lions crossed 150 when Richards struck Nealan van Heerden to the boundary, but the seamer replied in fine style by having the right-hand batter caught by Stubbs for 76 off 79 including 10 fours and a six.

Zubayr Hamza and Hendricks saw the Lions past 200 to end the 33rd over, striking up a 50-run partnership for the third wicket.

Hamza then fell for 33 to hand Renaldo Meyer his first wicket in Warriors colours.

The skipper dispatched Van Heerden to the leg-side boundary to bring up a half century of his own in the 39th over and before the Lions crossed the 250 mark a few balls later.

Hendricks shared 57 runs with Mitch Van Buuren before the latter fell 25 to Beyers Swanepoel, before a 32-run fifth-wicket stand with Wiaan Mulder [16] was ended by Alfred Mothoa.

As the home side crossed the 300 mark, Hendricks made his way to 92 before he fell to Swanepoel in the 49th over.

Swanepoel and Van Heerden conceded 131 runs from 18 overs, sharing four wickets, while Meyer, Mothoa and Kruger claimed one wicket apiece.

DP WORLD LIONS: Ryan Rickelton [WK], Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks [C], Zubayr Hamza, Mitch van Buuren, Wiaan Mulder, Bjorn Fortuin, Sisanda Magala, Malusi Siboto, Dianne Olivier, Tsepo Moreki

DAFABET WARRIORS: Jiveshan Pillay, Jordan Hermann, Sinethemba Qeshile, Matthew Breetzke [C], Tristan Stubbs [WK], Andile Mokgakane, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Renaldo Meyer, Neelan van Heerden, Alfred Mothoa