BETWAY SA20 RISING STARS PROPEL LIONS TO T20 CHALLENGE TITLE

Betway SA20 Rising Stars Connor Esterhuizen and Kwena Maphaka played big roles with bat and ball respectively to power the Lions to back-to-back T20 Challenge titles on Sunday at the Wanderers.

MI Cape Town batter Esterhuizen struck an undefeated 48 not out off 36 balls (6x4, 1x6), while Paarl Royals seamer Maphaka delivered the incredible figures of 2/15 from his allotted four overs.

Esterhuizen’s youthful exuberance was on full display as he shared an unbroken 98-run stand for the third wicket with MI Cape Town teammate Rassie van der Dussen as the Lions reached 124/2 with 29 balls to spare in response to the Titans’ 119 all out in 19.2 overs.

The benefit of being signed as a Rookie by MI Cape Town for Betway SA20 Season 2 was certainly evident in young Esterhuizen's display. 

The 23-year-old was not overawed by the occasion of playing in a grand final after already fronting up before a couple of capacity crowds at Newlands during Betway SA20 Season 2.

He finished the match in style for the Lions with his last blow flying high and handsome out of Bullring.

The benefit of having Van der Dussen at the other end can also not be undervalued. 

Van der Dussen has been Esterhuizen's mentor at both the Lions and MI Cape Town with the veteran absorbing all the pressure to finish unbeaten on 44 off 31 balls (7x4, 1x6).

It capped a fine performance by the Lions after the bowling unit had done superbly well to dismiss the Titans for a paltry total.

Paarl Royals teenage seamer Kwena Maphaka once again led the way for the Lions with the new ball.

The 17-year-old removed the in-form Rivaldo Moonsamy after MI Cape Town all-rounder Delano Potgieter had made the initial breakthrough.

Maphaka claimed further success lower down the order to finish with the incredible figures of 2/15 from his allotted four overs.

The two wickets propelled Maphaka to joint top of tournament’s leading wicket-takers table alongside his Lions teammate Junaid Dawood’s 13 scalps.

Fellow seamer Lutho Sipamla also claimed 4/12, which included the big wickets of Durban’s Super Giants superstar Heinrich Klaasen and Joburg Super Kings smasher Donovan Ferreira, to help restrict the Titans.