THE RICKELTON EXPRESS STEAMS ON IN CSA T20 CHALLENGE

Despite the contest against the Dolphins being reduced to just nine overs on Friday evening, there was enough time for Rickelton to blast 53 off just 23 balls (4x4, 4x6) to spearhead the Lions’ victory charge.

Paarl Royals seamer Codi Yusuf had earlier produced an excellent spell of 3/22 for the Lions to help limit the Dolphins to 98/6 after Durban's Super Giants Rookie Bryce Parsons (36 off 13 balls) and MI Cape Town's Grant Roelofsen (27 off 16 balls) had provided the early impetus. Yusuf claimed both Parsons and Roelofsen’s wickets to begin the Dolphins’ slide.

South Africa U19 star opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided South African cricket with a glimpse into the future with his maiden T20 half-century over the weekend in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge. The Paarl Royals Rookie was unable to participate in Betway SA20 Season 2 due to his ICC U19 World Cup commitments last season, but has made an early statement for inclusion alongside England captain Josh Buttler at the top of the Royals order next season. Still only in Matric at Cornwall High School after switching from St Stithians, the powerful left-hander struck 53 from 48 balls (10x4) for the Titans against KwaZulu-Natal Inland at Centurion.

Pretorius was joined by fellow Pretoria Capitals Rookie Steve Stolk, who also hit a brisk 22, as the former SA U19 opening pair dominated the PowerPlay.

Unfortunately for the Titans, it was a former Pretoria Capitals opener Cameron Delport that held the aces at Centurion with a swashbuckling 83 not out off 49 balls (5x4, 6x6). Delport had good support from Paarl Royals all-rounder Keith Dudgeon’s 28 off 19 balls (3x6) to help the Tuskers stun the home team by six wickets.

It was a disappointing follow-up for the Titans after they had brought the previously unbeaten Warriors’ eight-match winning streak to a grinding halt on Friday evening at St George's Park. Despite Sunrisers Eastern Cape all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel (5/39) celebrating his move to Kent with a maiden T20 wicket-haul for the Warriors, the Titans still had enough in the tank to close out a 12-run victory.

That was due to a solid 60 from Joburg Super Kings batter Sibonelo Makhanya and a three-wicket burst from Capitals all-rounder Corbin Bosch.

In Cape Town at Newlands, there was a welcome return to the playing field for Durban's Super Giants opener Tony de Zorzi. The dreadlocked batter had been struggling with injury and was forced to miss Western Province's last couple of matches. He made an immediate impact with 51 not out off 32 balls (3x4, 4x6).

De Zorzi and Pretoria Capitals batter Kyle Verreynne, who holds the record for the highest score in Betway SA20 history, seemed well on the path to setting up an imposing total for Western Province with a 51-run stand in just five overs before heavy rains forced the abandonment of the game.