Reeza Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder guided the DP World Lions to an emphatic seven-wicket triumph over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to secure the CSA T20 Challenge title at DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Hendricks struck an unbeaten 73 while Mulder smashed an unbeaten 55 as the pair shared in an unbroken stand of 85 from only 48 balls for the hosts to end on 168 for three in response to the Dolphins’ 165 for eight after Bjorn Fortuin had won the toss and elected to field first.
Hendricks was outstanding in his 52-ball knock, striking four boundaries and three sixes while Mulder struck two boundaries and four maximums from his 26-ball outing – the last of his sixes was over cover-point to bring up his fifty and to win the game.
🏆 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐏 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 #𝐂𝐒𝐀𝐓𝟐𝟎𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 🏆
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 28, 2024
Wiaan Mulder finishes it in style with a six to reach his first half-century in this year' tournament. pic.twitter.com/Q12P3N6rDl
The pair put the fielders on the back foot with their running between the sticks, turning ones into twos with regularity.
Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton (18) had given the home side a good start with an opening stand of 37 before Rickelton, who cracked two sixes, found the only fielder on the offside, slapping Okuhle Cele (3-0-38-1) straight to substitute Andile Simelane on the deep backward point fence.
Rassie van der Dussen (6) and Temba Bavuma (7) did not last long, with Van der Dussen being clean-bowled by Daryn Dupavillon (2.4-0-40-1) while Bavuma was well-caught by Tshepeng Dithole behind the stumps from the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo (2-0-14-1).
From there on out, it was all the Lions as Hendricks and Mulder put on a show for the home fans.
That #CSAT20Challenge winning feeling. 🤩🏆#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi pic.twitter.com/kgDuMcfCOu
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) April 28, 2024
SMITH FIFTY KEY FOR DOLPHINS
Earlier, the Dolphins had struggled to build any sort of momentum as they lost wickets on regular occasions.
Had it not been for a wonderful 51 from Jason Smith and a seventh-wicket stand of 57 from 31 balls with Eathan Bosch (17), the Dolphins would not have reached their par-score of 165.
Smith was key to making a game of it, striking five boundaries and a six from 33 balls, scoring his fourth T20 fifty.
Bryce Parsons (3) was run out in the first over while Jon-Jon Smuts (7) was caught on the long-off fence by Hendricks from the bowling of Fortuin (4-0-24-2).
Marques Ackerman (17) just started to find some form with a four and a six but then got a leading edge to be caught by Mulder at mid-wicket from the bowling of Evan Jones (2-0-19-1).
Phehlukwayo (10) played on from Lutho Sipamla (3-0-28-1) while Dithole (10) chipped Fortuin straight to Nqaba Peter in the covers.
Bosch’s resistance, which included one six from 16 balls, allowed Smith to build something that the Dolphins could bowl to.
However, Codi Yusuf (4-1-16-2) made sure that the Dolphins would not get too many in the final over, having Smith caught at short fine leg by Delano Potgieter and then clean-bowling Bosch.
DP WORLD LIONS: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, Delano Potgieter, Evan Jones, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Lutho Sipamla, Nqabayomzi Peter.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Khaya Zondo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Alvin Dithole (wk), Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele.