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Lions cruise to nine-wicket win over dismal Rocks

cricket31 March 2024 15:40| © MWP
By:Patrick Compton
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Reeza Hendricks © Gallo Images

The DP World Lions eased to a nine-wicket win over a dismal Gbets Rocks in their CSA T20 Challenge match at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.

 

The Lions restricted the Rocks to a paltry 116 for eight after the home team won the toss and chose to bat first.

They then went about their run chase with clinical efficiency, showing a level of awareness sorely absent from the Rocks, as they cruised to 120 for one in 17.2 overs.

The visitors’ only cause for disappointment is that they narrowly missed securing a bonus point.

They nevertheless moved up to second on the log with the Rocks remaining rooted to the bottom, with six defeats in seven matches.

To be fair to the Rocks, they bowled a lot better than they batted, making Lions’ openers Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks work hard for their runs in the early going.

On a low, slow Boland Park pitch, Rickelton in particular cut a frustrated figure, finding the fielders with regularity as the bowlers took pace off the ball and bowled wicket-to-wicket.

Paceman Glenton Stuurman and offspinner Imraan Manack did well to keep the runs down with the Lions only scoring 30 in the first powerplay.

The key, though, was that the Lions didn’t lose a wicket in that time while the Rocks lost two and four for 54 in the first 10 overs.

It was no surprise, however, that Rickelton was the only wicket to fall, caught on the boundary by Petersen off the bowling of legspinner Shaun von Berg, the Rocks’ best bowler who finished with 1-29 off his four overs.

With Hendricks content, for the most part, to pick up the ones and twos, the Lions decided to use Evan Jones as a pinch-hitter, with the big man bludgeoning 43 off 27 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Meanwhile Hendricks was happy to play the role of the ship’s captain, picking up his 46th career T20 half-century finishing unbeaten on 53 in 47 balls.

GAME CHANGER

Earlier, the Rocks struggled from the off in their innings.

They have had a poor tournament and they showed exactly why with a witless batting display against the Lions.

Despite being the home side, they showed little evidence of a plan to go about scoring in the Paarl conditions, repeatedly holing out on the boundary.

The visitors’ spinners had a field day with legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter (3-14) and the left-arm orthodox Bjorn Fortuin (2-15) claiming five wickets between them for just 29 runs in their combined eight overs.

That statistic, in itself, was a game changer.

The demolition began in the second over of the Rocks’ innings.

Petersen, who looks a shadow of the player who once impressed with the Dolphins and South Africa, was bowled through the gate by Fortuin advancing uncertainly down the pitch.

Skipper Clyde Fortuin was the next to go, tamely lofting an inside-out drive to Hendricks at long-off, again off Fortuin.

Peter particularly impressed, claiming two wickets in his first over; first Adrian du Toit was well held on the square leg boundary by Temba Bavuma then Aviwe Mgijima was bowled by a faster delivery that kept a little low.

Michael Copeland got a start but again fell to a mistimed slog to midwicket.

The only batter to threaten a recovery was Ferisco Adams, who struck 37 in 36 balls before falling to Wiaan Mulder, caught on the point boundary.

GBETS ROCKS: Keegan Petersen, Adrian du Toit, Clyde Fortuin (capt, wk), Aviwe MgijiMichael Copeland, Ferisco Adams, Christiaan Jonker, Shaun von Berg, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Akhona Mnyaka

DP WORLD LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Mitchell van Buuren, Wiaan Mulder, Evan Jones, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Lutho Sipamla, Nqabayomzi Peter

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