Good, bad and ugly from foreign legion in T20 Challenge
TODAY marks the end of the Ram Slam T20 challenge round robin phase with two contrasting matches taking place.
First up, the Highveld Lions and the Knights fight for the right to host the playoff in Kimberley.
Down in the winelands, the Cape Cobras will be rehearsing their steps for a home final as they host the Warriors in Paarl.
The teams have been heavily reliant on their overseas imports and for the top three teams, they have delivered, while the others have flattered to deceive. Here is how the foreign legion have performed:
Kieron Pollard – Cape Cobras (200 runs at 66.66, SR: 168.06, 2x50: 10 wickets at 17.10)
The muscular Trinidadian has effectively replaced Justin Kemp as the Cobras’ lower order enforcer, with the effective top-order providing him with the necessary starts to power them to competitive totals.
With Richard Levi finding serious form at the top of the order, Pollard has been the lower order accomplice who has not given teams any respite. He has had a tendency to go big or go home but that is the nature of fast food cricket.
He has also chipped in with the ball and the Cobras must perversely hope for the Barbados Tridents and Mumbai Indians to flop in their respective domestic tournaments so they can have his services for the Champions League T20.
Andre Russell – Knights (172 runs at 43, SR: 209.75, 2x50: 12 wickets at 16.41)
Possibly the export who has brought the tournament to life. He is seen as the lesser of the four all-rounders at home but his explosive performances, carrying on from his excellent Champions League T20 with the Kolkata Knight Riders, have made the Knights a formidable unit.
He has scored less runs than Pollard but he has given the Knights far more impetus and has shaped their results far more than Pollard.
His bowling has been the stronger suit and when the conditions allow, he has given teams trouble.
He will play a role in the Knights’ fortunes in their back to back clashes with the Highveld Lions.
Chris Gayle – Highveld Lions (242 runs at 40.33, SR:144.91, 1x100, 2x50: five wickets at 11)
The “Gayle Force” winds have been knocked out of his sails as the tournament has worn on due to teams bowling a fuller length.
However, his early burst, where he pummelled a century and two 50s, gave the Lions momentum that has carried them to the playoff game. His participation is in doubt due to a back injury that has ruled him out of the test series.
Highveld Lions coach Geoff Toyana hopes to nurse him through to Sunday’s playoff against the Knights, a high stakes game where the winner gets the second Champions League spot.
Dwayne Bravo – Dolphins (172 runs at 21.50, SR: 138.70: seven wickets at 34.14)
He will not look back at this tournament fondly but he bore the brunt of the Dolphins’ top order struggles.
When they fired against the Warriors and Titans in the early games, he provided the requisite acceler- ation for the big totals. When they floundered, he could not help the team get back up.
Off the field, he had a positive impact as he worked well and encouraged the Dolphins’ young clutch of all-rounders.
Craig Kieswetter – Warriors (184 runs at 23, SR:108.23, 2x50: 19 catches)
A pedantic batting strategy from the Eastern Cape side hampered Kieswetter’s normally machinegun approach.
He scored the necessary runs but far too often it was in an anchor role where they were chasing the game rather than forcing the issue.
A low strike rate tells the story of a Warriors batting line-up that struggled to get out of first gear.
However, his glove work was neat and he should be back next season alongside a fit Davy Jacobs. He could be a different proposition.
Darren Sammy – Titans (78 runs at 8.66, SR: 113.04: nine wickets at 22)
Sammy marshalled the Titans well at the back end of possibly their worst domestic T20 campaign when Henry Davids relinquished the captaincy, but that is pretty much all he did.
His limited batting was exposed but he did well to stem runs when the Titans’ opening bowlers were thrashed about.