The DP World Lions were able to find both their winning form and a ready-made replacement for new Proteas leg-spinner Nqaba Peter as they won both their weekend home matches in the CSA T20 Challenge, with Junaid Dawood collecting a haul of eight wickets against the Dafabet Warriors and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
Having spearheaded #ThePrideOfJozi’s charge to the title last season, young Peter has deservedly found his way into the national set-up. But after a tough opening encounter for both him and the team against the Momentum Multiply Titans, Dawood stepped up superbly this weekend.
The 28-year-old destroyed the Warriors’ batting line-up with 5/30, the second-best ever CSA T20 Challenge figures at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, as the Lions secured a bonus point victory by 62 runs on Friday night. Dawood was then instrumental in the nine-run win over the Dolphins on Sunday, helping to trigger a middle-order collapse as he took 3/22.
Figures of 8/52 are an outstanding weekend’s work, and Dawood’s success is once again an indication of the healthy pipeline that Lions cricket enjoys at the moment.
Chasing 157 for victory, the Dolphins were in good shape on 48/1 in the seventh over but Dawood then deceived key batsman Marques Ackerman (32) and had him stumped by the lightning-quick gloves of Wandile Makwetu.
Codi Yusuf then got Jon-Jon Smuts (1) and Bradley Porteous (0) out with successive deliveries, and an outstanding hat-trick ball just went over off-stump, having completely squared-up Andile Simelane.
Dawood then removed Tshepang Dithole (26) and Simelane (1) to reduce the Dolphins to 81/6 in the 13th over.
But the return of opener Khaya Zondo, who had retired hurt in the fourth over, to partner captain Prenelan Subrayen, ensured the visitors were not out of the contest as they added 52 off 34 balls. The Lions had 19 to defend in the final over and Evan Jones held his nerve after his first two deliveries went to the boundary, getting Zondo out for 28 and conceding just one more run.
Young left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka enjoyed more success as he took 2/24 in his four overs, while Yusuf also had a fine evening with 2/24 in his ration of overs.
There was more good news in the depth department when the Lions batted first after winning the toss as Josh Richards, coming in for Reeza Hendricks, who had flown overnight to Abu Dhabi to replace injured Proteas captain and #ThePrideOfJozi superstar Temba Bavuma, laid a good platform with an assured 38 off 32 balls.
Delano Potgieter (32* off 29 balls) and Jones, who monstered four sixes in his 29 not out off just 10 deliveries, then piled more misery on to the Dolphins bowlers at the death, adding 42 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership, off just 23 balls. That took the Lions to 156/5 in their 20 overs, a competitive total on a slowish pitch on which taking pace off brought dividends for the bowlers.
There was more pace in the pitch on Friday night and the Lions produced a magnificent batting display, again after winning the toss, amassing 239/4, their highest ever total in the competition.
Makwetu received a dreadful blow to the helmet from an accidental Siya Plaatjie beamer, which seemed to inspire the wicketkeeper/batsman as he exploded into action, going from a sedate 23 off 29 balls to a dazzling 55 off 41 deliveries, including five sixes.
Hendricks showed why the Proteas wanted him as he cruised to a classy 41 off 26 balls, hitting three sixes, the second-wicket pair setting the scene for a big finish as they added 75 in seven overs.
And what a finish it was!
Delano Potgieter, who was promoted up the order, smashed 36 off just 15 deliveries and then captain Mitchell van Buuren and Connor Esterhuizen wowed the crowd with their unbeaten partnership of 87 in just four-and-a-half overs, clobbering eight sixes between them.
Van Buuren scored 41* off 16 balls and Esterhuizen showed why he has been entrusted with finishing duties this season, lashing 40* off 17 deliveries.
It was a total the Lions defended with ease as they restricted the Warriors to 177/6.
Maphaka (4-0-29-1) produced a top-class display with the new ball, claiming a key wicket when he bowled Warriors captain Matthew Breetzke (1) with a beauty, and Tshepo Moreki (4-0-27-0) was an excellent partner up front.
It was the leg-spin of Dawood that had the fans all a-twitter thereafter though, as he claimed the other five wickets to fall.
A thrilling weekend of action at the DP World Wanderers Stadium has ensured that our Pride all have shining smiles as they prepare for Wednesday’s visit to Bloemfontein to take on the Knights.
留言