FOR THE RECORD: THE FIVE-WICKET HAULS

During Betway SA20 Season 2 batters came to the fore, but bowlers had their moments too.

None more so than the three bowlers, Noor Ahmad, Junior Dala and Marco Jansen, who managed to claim a sought-after ‘Michelle’, a five-wicket haul.

Here’s how they did it:

NOOR AHMAD (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)

Match: Durban’s Super Giants vs Paarl Royals (Match 22, Kingsmead, 28 January 2024)

Figures: 5-11 off 3.2 overs

Economy rate: 3.3 | Dot balls: 11

Having found his feet in his first three Betway SA20 matches, Noor Ahmad took centre stage for Durban’s Super Giants by grabbing the first five-wicket haul of Season 2. His 5-11 against Paarl Royals in Match 22 at Kingsmead was achieved in just 3.2 overs and helped skittle the men in pink for just 83 in response to DSG’s mammoth 208-7.

READ MORE: Noor Ahmad has everyone in a spin

Noor was on a hat-trick on two occasions as he sent Royals captain David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo back to the pavilion with successive deliveries before repeating the act against Obed McCoy and Tabraiz Shamsi. Bjorn Fortuin was also part of his five victims as the Afghanistan wrist-spinner showed local fans why he is such hot property across the world at just 19-years-old.

JUNIOR DALA (DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS)

Match: Durban’s Super Giants vs Pretoria Capitals (Match 24, Kingsmead, 30 January 2024)

Figures: 5-26 off 4 overs

Economy rate: 6.5 | Dot balls: 10

Just two days after his Durban’s Super Giants teammate Noor Ahmad claimed the season’s first five-for, Junior Dala matched the feat against Pretoria Capitals, also at Kingsmead.

Dala, playing just his second match of Season 2, seemed buoyed by his stunning catch on the boundary to dismiss Phil Salt when his turn to bowl came. In his first over, the ninth of Capitals’ innings, Dala castled the ever-dangerous Will Jacks for 41. It was almost a carbon-copy when Colin Ackermann saw his stumps rearranged in Dala’s next over.

DSG captain Keshav Maharaj, then held the fast bowler back until the 17th over when Dala coaxed Rilee Rossouw into a hoick which cost his wicket. Wickets four and five followed in his final over as first Wayne Parnell and then Eathan Bosch were dismissed sealing his career-best T20 figures – and going a long way to securing DSG’s eight-run victory.

MARCO JANSEN (SUNRISERS EASTERN CAPE)

Match: Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Durban’s Super Giants (The Final, Newlands, 10 February 2024)

Figures: 5-30 off 4 overs

Economy rate: 7.5 | Dot balls: 13

Finals are usually won by big performances and in the SA20 Season 2 showpiece, none was bigger than Marco Jansen’s with the ball for Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

Durban’s Super Giants pursuit of 205 had already hit a bump with Quinton de Kock’s dismissal for 3, before Jansen delivered two hammer blows in the fourth over. Both Jon-Jon Smuts and Bhanuka Rajapaksa had themselves caught by Patrick Kruger to leave the Super Giants reeling at 7-3.

ALSO READ: Season 2's highest wicket takers

With DSG further on the ropes at 63-5 Jansen returned to the fray and duly charged through their captain Keshav Maharaj, Junior Dala and Reece Topley to complete Sunrisers’ back-to-back triumphs.

It was a poignant moment for Jansen after he struck the six last season that won the inaugural Betway SA20 title and now claimed the final wicket this year.