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DUDGEON DOMINATES IN DOMESTIC DOUBLE-HEADER WEEKEND
Just a few days after Kwena Maphaka made headlines again, the man who stood-in for him during Betway SA20 Season 2, Keith Dudgeon, showed his credentials in the past weekend’s CSA T20 Challenge action.
Dudgeon took Maphaka’s place in the Paarl Royals squad when the rising star headed off to the ICC Under-19 World Cup - where he picked up the best player award. The 28-year-old seamer meanwhile didn’t get on the park in SA20, but the value of the experience has undoubtedly transferred to his game domestically. No more so than during Saturday’s fixture between the Lions (where Dudgeon started his career) and his current team, the Tuskers from KwaZulu-Natal Inland.
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Inclement weather at Wanderers Stadium reduced the fixture to 15 overs a side and, upon winning the toss, Dudgeon’s captain duly sent the hosts in to bat. It proved a masterstroke, all thanks to the opening bowler.
Dudgeon produced barely believable figures of 3-1-5-4, with three of those wickets - Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Mitchell van Buuren – coming in the first over as the Lions were reduced to 0/3. It was 3/4 after 2.4 overs when Reeza Hendricks became his fourth victim – all four fell for a duck.
Paarl Royals' Keith Dudgeon had much to celebrate while taking four wickets for his domestic team, the Tuskers.
The Lions needed allrounders Wiaan Mulder (36*) and Evan Jones (29*) to post a total of 90/5.
It wasn’t nearly enough though, as the Tuskers' top-order withstood the Lions bowling attack – including Dudgeon’s Royals teammates Bjorn Fortuin and Jones – to complete an 8-wicket bonus point victory. It was only the Tuskers' second win of the entire season, the first coming in their first match after promotion… against the self-same Lions.
Meanwhile, David Wiese proved the hero of the earlier match of Saturday’s double-header, between the Titans and Western Province.
Titans batted first after losing the toss, and a quick-fire 37 off 23 balls by South Africa Paarl Royals rookie and SA Under-19 star, Lhuan-dre Pretorius was the catalyst of their 147/7.
WP looked in the ascendancy for most of their innings but, with rain imminent, veteran Wiese ended David Bedingham’s innings on 49 and then claimed Kyle Verreynne (6) the next over. The crucial wickets were those of George Linde (17) and Onke Nyaku (0) in back-to-back deliveries at the end of the 19th as the rain settled in with WP’s then score of 138/6. Dramatically, the match’s time ran out and WP's score saw the match tied and the points shared.
David Wiese used all his years' of experience to help the Titans to an unlikely tie against Western Province.
Sunday’s two matches at St George’s Park took place without the weather interruptions but still provided some drama.
Not least in bottom-of-the log the Rocks sneaking a 4-wicket win (with three balls remaining) over 4th-placed the Dolphins. The Dolphins made 158/4 after they lost the toss and were asked to bat first, with a handy contribution of 31 from midweek hero Bryce Parsons helping them there.
The Dolphins (like the Titans and Lions on Saturday) featured eight SA20 Season 2 players, including their stand-in captain Andile Phehlukwayo. The Rocks, meanwhile, only had one in Ferisco Adams and the allrounder performed with the bat for the second straight match. His 33 off 23 balls in the middle order added vital impetus to the Paarl team’s innings and then Season 1 players Christiaan Jonker and Shaun von Berg held their nerve to seal their first win of the competition.
In the final match of the weekend, double-header hosts the Warriors showed why they’re the team to beat in the domestic T20 competition.
Their captain, Matthew Breetzke won the toss against North West Dragons, chose to bat and then got the ball rolling with 37 off 28. Jordan Hermann then contributed 28 off 21 in the middle before a swashbuckling 46 off 21 (5 fours, 2 sixes) from Patrick Kruger helped them to 186/5.
Patrick Kruger smashed his was to 46 off 21 to help the Warriors claim their sixth win on the bounce.
Caleb Seleka (who called St George’s Park home during SA20 Season 2) was the best of the Dragons’ bowlers claiming 2/33 while with Duan Jansen (1/39) and Wihan Lubbe (1/23) also did their bit.
In their batting reply, the Dragons top order all got starts without converting before the tail fell at regular intervals to eventually fall to a 24-run loss.
All told, Warriors six wins from six matches leaves them 10 points clear of the Lions in second, with Western Province and Dolphins a further one point further back each.
Round up of best double-header weekend performances from SA20-signed players:
David Wiese – Titans (4/20 vs Western Province)
Keith Dudgeon – Tuskers (4/5 vs Lions)
Patrick Kruger – Warriors (46 off 21 vs North West Dragons)
