Esterhuizen shines as Lions down Dragons

Connor Esterhuizen registered a new personal best T20 score as he inspired the DP World Lions to a five-run win over the Auto Investment North West Dragons in their CSA T20 Challenge match at the JB Marks Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions won the toss, elected to bat first, and scored 170 for three in 20 overs. Esterhuizen secured victory for the Lions when he ran Marco Jansen out in the final over as his side restricted the Dragons to 165 for six in 20 overs.

The victory now means that the Lions have punched their ticket to the qualifier, which they will host at the Wanderers. The winner of the qualifier will book a spot in the final.

Two batters registered their maiden T20 half-centuries, however, only one of them was on the winning side. Esterhuizen scored a brilliant 62 off 39 deliveries. He struck three fours and as many sixes in his innings. This is Esterhuizen's maiden T20 half-century.

The wicketkeeper arrived at the crease in the ninth over, following the dismissal of Zubayr Hamza, who had scored a laboured 25-ball 21 Before his dismissal, Hamza had shared a match-stabilising 41-run second-wicket partnership with Rassie van der Dussen.

KEY THIRD-WICKET PARTNERSHIP

The most important partnership for the Lions was Van der Dussen and Connor Esterhuizen's third-wicket stand. The duo added a crucial 71 runs to the total. A feature of their partnership was their ability to run tight singles. Despite hitting boundaries, Van der Dussen and Esterhuizen ran 28 singles and a substantial number of twos.

It was during this partnership that Van der Dussen registered his 38th T20 half-century. He creamed four fours and three sixes for his outstanding 38-ball 59. Esterhuizen, who had played second fiddle during his partnership with Van der Dussen was required to take the lead when the new man, Mitchell van Buuren came in. Esterhuizen, who had been going at close to a run-a-ball for most of his partnership with Van der Dussen, let loose and attacked the bowlers. He scored most of the runs of his unbroken 39-run partnership with Van Buuren.

The Lions have not been the most disciplined side when it comes to delivering wides. They came into the encounter averaging 11 wides a match. In this match, they were no better, conceding 12 wides in the contest. However, they made up for that by taking wickets at the right moments, just as the Dragons seemed as if they were ready to take the game away.

Ludwich Schuld, who was batting in his second T20 innings, anchored the Dragons' innings, giving them a chance at victory. He struck three fours and two sixes on his way to a maiden T20 half-century of 60 off 51 balls.

The home side had the game under control when Schuld and his captain, Wihan Lubbe were in the middle. The pair was cruising, taking minimal risk with their shot selection. However, that meant that they had to run more singles and push for twos when the opportunity presented itself. The pair took a chance to put pressure on the fielder in the covers by taking two. That did not work out as Lubbe, who was just getting in stride, was run out by Zubayr Hamza.

However, all was not lost as the home side still had Marco Jansen in the dugout. The lanky No 7 strode in and smashed three sixes and a single four for his 29 off 14. The Dragons needed him at the striker's end, but the Lions bowlers kept him off strike for most of the final two overs. Jansen, in an effort to power his side home, attempted to take a single as the ball flew to the wicketkeeper. He wasn't fast enough to beat Esterhuizen's arm.

Kwena Maphaka was the pick of the bowlers for the Lions. The 18-year-old took two wickets for 28 runs in four overs. Tshepo Moreki also bagged a brace, but conceded 38 runs in four overs.

DRAGONS: Janneman Malan, Ludwich Schuld, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Wihan Lubbe (capt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Taheer Isaacs, Marco Jansen, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete

LIONS: Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Mitchell van Buuren, Delano Potgieter, Evan Jones, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Nqaba Peter, Tshepo Moreki, Kwena Maphaka