MAPHAKA HOLDS HIS NERVE AS CSA T20 CHALLENGE SUPER OVER

There was a debut for a rookie, allrounders proving their value and a 17-year-old rising star holding his nerve over the weekend as Betway SA20-signed players continued to make their mark in the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge.

Three matches took place on Friday, with the Big City Derby between the Lions and the Titans at Wanderers being the pick.

The hosts, the Lions, were able to pick an all-SA20 playing XI which included Kagiso Rabada before he leaves for the IPL. They also made first use of the pitch and put up 183/5 from their 20 overs with Wiaan Mulder’s 48 off 32 balls being the top score. Lizaad Williams was the best of the Titans bowlers with 2/20.

In their reply, the Titans opened with Paarl Royals rookie Lhuan-dre Pretorius, but he could only score 9 off 12. Sibonelo Makhanya (34 off 25) was part of an 89-run partnership which kept Titans in the running, but the Lions bowling bowling lineup of Bjorn Fortuin (2/23), Rabada (1/24), Kwena Maphaka (1/37) and Codi Yusuf (2/48) ultimately secured a one-run victory for them – leaving the defending champions outside the top four after five rounds of action.

Meanwhile, in Potchefstroom, North West Dragons (207/4) had a far easier victory over KwaZulu-Natal Inland’s Tuskers (82 all out) thanks to captain Senuran Muthusamy (3/16) and his spin partner Caleb Seleka (2/16).

Similarly, the Dolphins (129/1) had no problem chasing the Rocks’ 125/8 at Boland Park. A 108-run opening stand between Bryce Parsons (47 off 36) and Grant Roelofsen (71* off 45) broke the back of the chase.

Three further matches took place on Sunday, and inclement weather played a role in each of them.

At Kingsmead, North West Dragons were on 79/4 off 13.2 overs when the rain settled in and ultimately forced a no result. Jon-Jon Smuts and Prenelan Subrayen (who has taken over the captaincy from IPL-bound Keshav Maharaj) had shared the four wickets which fell.

Down in Gqeberha, at St George’s Park a result was at least possible after the Warriors’ 166/6 was readjusted to a target of 150 off 17 overs for the Rocks. Hardus Viljoen had ‘top-and-tailed’ the wicket-taking by claiming Matthew Breetzke and Beyers Swanepoel to finish with 2/28. The paceman tried a rearguard with the bat too, but was last out for 26 off 14 as the Warriors claimed 32-run victory on the DLS method. Sunrisers Eastern Cape duo, Swanepoel (4/16) and Patrick Kruger (3/20) did the bulk of the damage. Anrich Nortje also had one last run out before heading off to the IPL.

The North-South Derby produced an even more dramatic finish than the Lions other derby on Friday afternoon. All six of the hosts bowlers claimed wickets as Western Province were reduced to 127/9 in tricky conditions at the Wanderers.

The teams then sat around waiting to see if a match would be possible before a window opened for Lions to be set 52 off seven overs.

Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton set about the target with gusto but somehow, the experience of Beuran Hendricks, Wayne Parnell and Kyle Simmonds did well enough to force a tie – Reeza Hendricks being caught off the final ball.

In Super Over decider, Rickelton and Evan Jones scored 10 off Parnell. Lions captain Bjorn Fortuin meanwhile entrusted Maphaka to bowl at Kyle Verreynne and George Linde and the 17-year-old came up clutch to seal a famous win for the home side and once again confirm his status as a genuine rising star.

Round up of best weekend performances from SA20-signed players:

Bryce Parsons – Dolphins (47 off 36 vs Rocks)

Grant Roelofsen – Dolphins (71* off 45 vs Rocks)

Senuran Muthusamy – North West Dragons (3/16 vs Tuskers)

Wiaan Mulder – Lions (48 off 32 vs Titans)

Beyers Swanepoel – Warriors (4/16 vs Rocks)

Patrick Kruger – Warriors (3/20 vs Rocks)