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IT'S TIME TO CHOOSE SEASON 2'S BEST CATCH!
For the month of June, Betway SA20 reflects on the incredible catches taken during Season 2. Choosing one from each team was difficult because there were many 'worldies' taken throughout the competition, but here are our shortlist for you to choose your best:
MATTHEW BREETZKE (Durban's Super Giants)
Durban's Super Giants' Matthew Breetzke finished as the third-highest run scorer in SA20 Season 2, with 416 runs, and second in his team behind Heinrich Klaasen. Similarly, the 25-year-old finished as DSG's second-best catcher (joint with Wiaan Mulder), with one of his seven catches being an excellent effort to dismiss MI Cape Town's Dewald Brevis in their season-opener at Kingsmead Stadium.
Running around the long-on boundary, Breetzke - who can also keep wicket - dived forward and scooped up a mistimed drive from Brevis just centimetres off the ground to show his athleticism and talent.
FAF DU PLESSIS (Joburg Super Kings)
Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis has always been an excellent fielder and that hasn't changed even on the brink of turning 40. Throughout SA20 Season 2, and especially the early weeks of the campaign when JSK were not getting the wins they craved, Du Plessis spoke about his team needing 'moments' to be the catalyst to their success.
In terms of 'moments' few were more iconic than his catch off Dewald Brevis (unlucky much!) when MI Cape Town were at the Wanderers. With Brevis attempting to continue the earlier onslaught of Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton, he attempted a big-hit down the ground but mistimed it. That said, the shot looked like looping over Du Plessis - running back from mid-off - and landing safely until he flung himself full length and incredibly hung on to the chance one-handed.
DEWALD BREVIS (MI Cape Town)
Having lost his wicket to two 'worldies', Dewald Brevis himself got in on the act when MI Cape Town hosted Durban's Super Giants at Newlands.
Much the same as Breetzke's effort which dismissed him in the reverse fixture, Brevis had to show athleticism and a bit of bravery to dismiss Jon-Jon Smuts (more to come from him too). The DSG batter had attempted a slog-sweep without connecting fully, but as the ball looked like landing in front of Brevis he dived forward and held onto a one-handed classic to bring a smile to the 21-year-old's face - and those in the famous Oaks embankment right behind him.
MITCHELL VAN BUUREN (Paarl Royals)
Paarl Royals started Season 2 like a house on fire and found themselves at the top of the table going into the closing rounds, largely on the back of of their form with bat and ball at Boland Park - but fielders like Mitchell van Buuren played their part too.
With DSG in town, and Jon-Jon Smuts at the crease, something interesting was in the offing and duly it came when the DSG 'biffer' smashed a full-toss from Lungi Ngidi to the square leg fence - but just not far enough. The onrushing Van Buuren caught the ball, but with momentum taking him over the rope, tossed the ball in the air and regathered it, much to the frustration of the unlucky Smuts but delight of the pink-clad crowd.
WILL JACKS (Pretoria Capitals)
Pretoria Capitals big-hitting Englishman Will Jacks refused to be kept out of their action during SA20 Season 2. If he wasn't scoring runs, including smashing Betway Catch R2 Million teasers into the stands, he was tricking batters with his off-spinners - usually he was doing both and being the Sky Blues' safest pair of hands in the outfield.
He proved as much in the Capitals first home match of the campaign against Paarl Royals when he hung onto three catches, which included an excellent take off his national captain Jos Buttler. In an entirely English dismissal, Buttler lofted a drive off Adil Rashid towards wide long-off but just as it looked to be boundary-bound Jacks slid across the turf safely clutching the ball in both hands before rolling over and emerging with the ball still safely in his grasp.
AIDEN MARKRAM (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)
During Season 2, Aiden Markram didn't have his most productive campaign with the bat and took the ball sparingly as his Sunrisers Eastern Cape attack dominated, but few were better in the field than him.
Apart from ending the competition by lifting the trophy again, Markram also held onto one of the most talked-about catches of the campaign. With a place in the Final up for grabs during Qualifier 1, Durban's Super Giants found themselves 13/2 chasing a gettable target of 158. Then, a lofted pull off Ottniel Baartman was floating agonisingly over Markram until he leapt into the air, held onto a one-handed reverse-cup catch and landed safely with it. The shellshocked batter? Jon-Jon Smuts...
VOTE for your the best catch from the list above in this month’s competition to stand a chance of winning a Betway SA20 merchandise hamper.
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