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A brilliant performance with bat and ball saw the DP World Lions secure their second-consecutive CSA T20 Challenge title with a brilliant eight-wicket triumph over the Momentum Multiply Titans at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.
Rassie van der Dussen (44 not out) and Connor Esterhuizen (48 not out) plundered an unbeaten 98-run stand for the third wicket as the Lions reached 124 for two with 29 balls to spare in response to the Titans’ 119 all out in 19.2 overs.
Lutho Sipamla, who won the best bowler prize, had snagged career-best figures of 4-13 alongside Kwena Maphaka’s 2-15 and Bjorn Fortuin’s 2-10 as the Titans faltered under disciplined bowling from the home side. Sipamla, who bowled 13 dot balls and did not concede a boundary, helped in reducing the Titans to 34 for five.
Delano Potgieter (2-0-18-1) made the initial breakthrough after a solid start from Lhuan-dre Pretorius (13) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (13), having Pretorius edging behind to Esterhuizen. Maphaka then had Dayyaan Galiem caught at mid-off by Evan Jones for just a single before Sipamla entered the fray.
Sipamla removed Sibonelo Makhanya (4), caught at short mid-wicket by Potgieter and then had Moonsamy edging behind before clean-bowling Donovan Ferreira very next ball without scoring. Sipamla rounded off an excellent afternoon with the ball when he snagged the big fish of Heinrich Klaasen, edging to Esterhuizen behind the stumps for 13.
Fortuin accounted for Roelof van der Merwe (15), adjudged lbw, and having Andile Phehlukwayo stumped by Esterhuizen for 19. Gerald Coetzee top-scored with 20 but was bowled by Jones (3.2-0-24-1) while Junior Dala departed for 13.
In reply, it seemed that the Titans were going to make a fist in defence of their meagre total as Reeza Hendricks was trapped in front by Galiem (3-0-14-1). When Zubayr Hamza (20) was caught by Galiem at mid-on from the bowling of Coetzee (3.1-0-38-1), nerves seem to be filtering around the stadium.
However, Van der Dussen, who struck seven boundaries and one six from 31 balls, calmed emotions with an excellent stand alongside Esterhuizen to take their side to another title. Esterhuizen struck six fours and a six himself from 36 balls, hit the winning runs, a massive six over mid-wicket, and won the best batsman prize.
The pair turned singles into two’s on a regular basis while finding the fence at will. The Lions, who beat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins last season, now have six titles alongside the Titans, who also have won six crowns.
