Teenage sensation growing super fast into challenge
THERE was another action-packed round of CSA T20 Challenge fixtures with a couple of tense finishes, especially in both matches involving the Lions at the Wanderers.
The Warriors, however, proved to be the form team as they maintained their 100% start to the competition with another couple of bonus point victories. Here, Independent Newspapers have chosen five players that starred for their teams at the weekend. Beyers Swanepoel – Warriors After missing the first couple of matches of the competition due to the availability of the Proteas, Swanepoel made a big impact with the ball on Sunday against the helpless Rocks.
The all-rounder claimed excellent figures of 4/16 to entrench the Warriors’ top spot on the log. He was particularly devastating with the new ball, claiming both Malan brothers – Janneman and Pieter – in the PowerPlay. Kwena Maphaka – Lions
The stars seem too low for young Maphaka to aim at as the teenager delivered an immense performance under pressure for the Lions.
Skipper Bjorn Fortuin had no problem in entrusting Maphaka with the Super Over against Western Province, despite the 17-year-old only having 10 runs to defend. He executed perfectly, conceding just one boundary in the over as the Lions sneaked through by one run.
Rubin Hermann – North West The older brother of Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Warriors star Jordan Hermann has certainly jumped out of obscurity during this CSA T20 Challenge.
After a career-best 90 off just 54 balls in the previous game against Western Province, the left-handed opener went one better in the following match against KZN Inland. Hermann blasted the first century of the tournament – again only utilising 54 balls – for his 104 (11x4, 3x6). Rivaldo Moonsamy – Titans The Titans wicketkeeper batter played a lone hand against the Lions, and his 88 off 52 balls (6x4, 6x6) should have been enough for the Sky Blues to claim victory.
Instead, he could only look on as the Titans blew away their chances at the death. Moonsamy has been in prolific form throughout the season as he also finished as the Titans’ leading runscorer in the four-day competition.
Grant Roelofsen – Dolphins
One of the leading T20 batters for the Dolphins for a number of years, Roelofsen would have been disappointed with his limited opportunities at MI Cape Town during the SA20, due to the immense form of openers Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton. But back at the Dolphins, Roelofsen remains a key player for Imraan Khan’s team and he showed that with a superb 71 not out off 45 balls against the Rocks to lead the KwaZulu-Natal team’s climb up the table.