MICT’S POTGIETER THE HERO IN DOMESTIC 4-DAY FINAL

MI Cape Town’s allrounder Delano Potgieter was the hero for his domestic side, the Lions, as they won the CSA 4-Day Series Final over the weekend.

In a thrilling final, which ebbed-and-flowed over the five days at Wanderers Stadium, Lions emerged victorious with a 99-run win over Western Province.

Potgieter shone in both Lions innings, scoring 81 on the first day (during which Lions found themselves 35-5) and a magnificent 155 not out in the second innings – to turn Lions’ 113-6 into a 394 total and an unassailable 307 target for WP.

Delano Potgieter shone with both bat and ball for the Lions in the domestic 4-day series final.

Lions head coach, Russell Domingo, now has back-to-back triumphs after serving as Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s batting coach during Betway SA20. Domingo had special praise for Player of the Match Potgieter, who only featured twice for MI Cape Town during their disappointing SA20 campaign and has had similarly limited appearances in a star-studded Lions set-up.

That said, in the four first class matches the 27-year-old played he made vital contributions, scoring 290 runs at an average of 96.66 and taking 11 wickets at 29.45.

“Delano was magnificent. He only played a few games but he did really well last week in Centurion and he brought that confidence here. He only came in because Wiaan [Mulder – Durban’s Super Giants allrounder] couldn’t bowl and we needed that fourth seamer. And then he plays one of the best final innings you’ll ever see,” Domingo said.

“It’s definitely a dream come true,” a beaming Potgieter said. “To have my career-best at the Wanderers, in a final, is next level. I feel amazing and I can’t really explain how it happened. I’m just so happy for the team and for myself. It’s been a hard season for me because I have not played much, but Hashim Amla [both his MICT and Lions batting coach] said if I keep working hard then the rewards will come. And the final brought exactly that. But it’s amazing, what a time to do it when conditions were obviously not easy.

“It was a great win, unbelievable really and I could not be more happy to win a trophy in my first season back with the Lions, and it’s the hardest trophy to win,” Potgieter said.

The Lions' victorious side (SA20 teams in brackets): Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks - captain, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Wiaan Mulder (Durban's Super Giants), Delano Potgieter (MI Cape Town), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Codi Yusuf (Paarl Royals), Malusi Siboto, Tshepo Moreki.