Lions beat Dolphins by 6 wickets
Chasing 173 for victory, the Lions reached their target with four wickets down and seven balls to spare.
The West Indian Gayle opened the batting for the Lions and scored 56 from 38 balls, with six fours and two maximums, in a demonstration of the lusty hitting for which the left-hander is renowned.
Gayle was also the pick of the bowlers for the Lions with figures of 4/36 in his four overs.
Jean Symes ended as the top scorer for the Lions with 58 unbeaten from 50 balls.
Together Symes and Gayle put on an 89 run partnership from 68 balls to effectively seal the comprehensive result for the Lions.
The Dolphins posted 172 for nine in their innings courtesy of a 71 run partnership between Cody Chetty (68) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (40).
Their stay at the crease lasted 41 balls, and it was broken by Gayle for the Lions.
Gayle had his fellow left-handed batsman caught at the long-on boundary as the Dolphins fell to 98 for three.
Wickets continued to tumble for the Dolphins, and their run at posting a big total was thwarted by the Lions bowling attack.
Chris Morris (2/30) and Hardus Viljoen (2/14) each chipped in with two wickets to help restrict the Dolphins.
Earlier, the Dolphins got off to a bad start with Cameron Delport out for a first ball duck, caught Temba Bavuma, bowled Lonwabo Tsotsobe off the second ball of the match.
Morne van Wyk (5) was also out cheaply, removed by Viljoen as the batsman was trapped lbw with the Dolphins on 27 for two after 3.1 overs.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
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