REEZA 'RAZZLE DAZZLE' HENDRICKS LIGHTS UP THE CSA T20 CHALLENGE

The elegant opener, nicknamed 'Razzle Dazzle' for his stylish play, shook off the shackles in a superb debut season in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he struck 304 runs in just eight matches.

Reeza Hendricks has since been really good in his last two CSA T20 Challenge innings - against the two Western Cape teams Boland Rocks and Western Province - by raising his bat for consecutive half-centuries.

The last innings against WP at Newlands was particularly special with Hendricks stroking a beautiful 90 off just 49 balls (5x4, 6x6). He was particularly severe on his Super Kings teammate Kyle Simmonds, bashing the left-arm spinner for two sixes in an over.

“It went a bit quiet in SA20, but it was only a matter of time before it clicked again. That's cricket being cricket,” Hendricks said. “It is nice to have a bit of momentum on my side again, which happened at the PSL, and now taking it into the CSA T20 Challenge. "

“I have a got few in the last couple of games, and that is how cricket works, you take the highs and lows, but it is always nice to score runs.” Hendricks has also enjoyed being reunited with Betway SA20 Season 2 top run-getter Ryan Rickelton.

The MI Cape Town opener has transferred his magnificent Betway SA20 form to the CSA T20 Challenge with another sparkling 73 off just 46 balls (5x4, 4x6) as the Lions opening pair put together an outstanding 151-run partnership for the first wicket against Western Province. “I was well supported by Ryan in the PowerPlay. He is playing unbelievably well,” Hendricks said. “We saw what he did in the SA20 and he has carried that through to the CSA T20 Challenge. So, he is playing really nicely at the moment and seems to be in a very good space.” Rickelton's MI Cape Town teammates Rassie van der Dussen (29 off 18 balls) and Delano Potgieter (14 not out off 7 balls) also chipped in with breezy cameos to power the Lions to a massive 213/2.

Paarl Royals Rookie Nqaba Peter continued his upward trajectory since the Betway SA20 by claiming a hugely impressive 4/7 in 2.3 overs for the Lions to dismantle WP’s run chase.

The Lions will go again on Friday evening against the Dolphins in a crucial clash for the coastal team if they are hoping to qualify for the playoffs.

The Dolphins will be hoping that Durban's Super Giants Bryce Parsons and MI Cape Town’s Grant Roelofsen can rediscover their form at the top of the order to ignite the challenge.

The unbeaten Warriors will also be looking to stretch their unbeaten record to nine matches on the trot.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape all-rounders Beyers Swanepoel and Patrick Kruger have been influential in this winning run for the Warriors.

Boland Park will host the last game of the night between the basement dwellers Rocks and KwaZulu-Natal Inland, where Paarl Royals’ Keith Dudgeon has been the only shining light for the team from Pietermaritzburg.