On Sunday 27 February 2022 after a gruelling 30 matches the final match in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge at St Georges Park in Gqeberha between Multiply Titans and the Gbets Rocksgot underway.
Coming into the ground the SAME security guard that incorrectly predicted a win for the Dolphins called today’s match for the Rocks – personally I hoped that he would be right this time! BUT, chatting to Makhaya Ntini before the game he also called it for the Rocks – so who am I to demur?
There is a lot to be said for Body Language of the teams about to contest:
The Gbets Rocks won the toss and elected to bat.
First out to the crease were the Malan brothers – Janneman and Pieter. Opening the bowling for the Titans was Lizaad Williams.
Not a scintillating start for the Gbets Rocks as the Titans confined them to one run in the first over. Next bowler – Aron Phangiso.
An equally slow 2nd over saw the Rocks on 2/0 with J Malan being responsible for both runs. Williams to bowl next.
First boundary on the 1st ball of the 3rd over went to J Malan as he stroked a beauty for four.
A bit of a blow for thr Rocks on the last ball of the 3rd over as Williams bowled J Malan (7 from 11) putting the Rocks on 10/1 with a 3.3 run rate. Next batsman – Fortuin and bowler – Phangiso.
First SIX of the match from P Malan on ball 4 of the 4th over – Rocks on 27/1 with a run rate of 5.8. 10 runs from that over and the Rocks appeared to have steadied the ship. Next bowler – Junior Dala.
At the end of the powerplay Fortuin (7 from 7) was run out – throw in by Gqamande and stumped by De Kock. Rocks on 34/2 with a run rate of 5.7. Next batsman – Copeland and bowler – Phangiso.
Super Shamsi ensured that Copeland’s (1 from 8) stay at the crease was shortlived as he bowled him on the 5th ball of the 7th over. Rocks on 38/3 after 7.5 overs with a run rate of 4.8. Next batsman – Ferisco Adams. Next bowler – Dewald Brevis.
A fairly decent first over from Brevis as he confined the Rocks to just two runs. Rocks on 45/3 with a run rate of 5. Next bowler – Shamsi.
50 Up for the Rocks came in the 10th over after 41 minutes, 61 balls with 3 fours, 6 extras and 1 six.
At the halfway mark the Rocks were on 50/3 with a run rate of 5. At the crease were P Malan (25) and Ferisco Adams (4).
It started looking like the Rocks would not post 80 runs in this match as Super Shamsi secured his second wicket of the day – LBW against Ferisco Adams (6 from 14). Rocks on 57/4 with a 4.7 run trate with 8 overs to go. Next batsman – Valentine Kitime.
Captain P Malan obviously was peering over my shoulder reading the paragraph above as he klapped 3 sixes in the next over to punish Brevis a bit and keep the hopes alive. At the end of over 13 the Rocks were now on 75/4 with a run rate of 5.8.
50 up for Pieter Malan came in the 13th over after 54 minutes, 40 balls, 18 dots, 2 fours and 4 sixes. At the end of the over the Rocks were on 80/4 with a run rate of 5.7 and 30 balls to go. Next bowler – Aya Gqamane for his first.
At the end of 15 overs the Rocks were not in a dominant postion having posted 86/4 with a run rate of 5.7. At the crease were P Malan (54) and Kitime (2).
Just when the Rocks were getitng runs a reverse sweep from Valentine Kitime ( 3 from 7) went horribly wrong off the bowling of Tabraiz Shamsi (3-20) caught behind by De Kock. Next batsman – Hardus Viljoen. Rocks on 89/5 on a 5.7 run rate.
The Rocks reached 100 up after 69 minutes, 106 balls with 3 fours, 5 sixes, 9 extras. 100/5 with a run rate of 5.9.
A bit of a shock for the Rocks on the 2nd ball of the 18th over as Pieter Malan (71 from 56 with 2 fours and 5 sixes) was caught on the Duck Pond End boundary by Klaasen off the bowling of Williams. Rocks on 117/6 with a 6.4 run rate and 10 balls in hand. Next batsman – Shaun Von Berg.
It seemed like Viljoen had caught the Malan bug’ as he hit for the boundary increasing his share of the spoils to 21 runs off of 10 balls at the end of over 19. The Rocks on 126/6 and a run rate of 6.6 going into the last over to be bowled by Junior Dala.
Not a good over for Dala as he was penalised for a dangerous ball with a free hit giving Viljoen his 2nd four in a row. The Rocks closed off their innings on 138/6 with a 6.9 run rate setting the Titans a target of 139 to win.
Opening batsmen for the Titans were De Kock and De Bruyn with Mahima from the Rocks opening their bowling. A good start for the Titans as they race to 10/0 in the first over – De Kock (9) and De Bruyn (1) to put them on 1 run rate of 10. In complete contrast the Rocks finished their 1st over on 1/0 with run rate of 1. Second over bowler – Manack.
BUT, not everything goes well in every match as De Kock (9 from 5 with 2 fours) fell to the bowling of Manack as he placed a high ball only to watch it drop into the hands of Pieter Malan. Next batsman – Brevis. Titans on 11/1 with a 8.3 run rate.
Last ball of over 3 brought tragedy for the Titans as Mahima bowled to see Fortuin (11 from 11 with 2 fours) stump Theunis De Bruyn in another close call for the tournament. Next batsman – Klaasen. Titans on 20/2 with a run rate of 6.7 as the Rocks slowly pushed the rate down to more manageable limits.
Good over for Mahima as the Titans slumped to 26/2 with a run rate of 5.2. Next bowler Viljoen.
During the powerplay we saw Hardus Viljoen responsible for his 150th T20 Career Wicket as Dewald Brevis ( 5 from 13) fell after being caught by Von Berg on the Duck Pond end boundary. Titans 29/3. Next batsman Makhanya. And, at the end of the powerplay, the Titans were on 34/3 with a run rate of 5.7. In contrast the Rocks were on 34/2 with a run rate of 5.7. Nothing in it really – except for that vital extra wicket that the Rocks had taken.
The Titans 50 up came after 35 minutes, 54 balls, 7 fours and 1 extra. Totans on 53/3 needing 85 runs to win off of 66 balls. At the same point in their innings the Rocks 50 came in the 10th over after 41 minutes, 61 balls with 3 fours, 6 extras and 1 six.
At the halfway mark the Titans were on 64/3 with a run rate of 6.4 needing 75 runs off 60 balls to win. At the same point in their innings the Rocks were on 50/3 with a run rate of 5. Looked like the Titans were about to accelerate awy but, the first ball of the 11th over put a damper on those plans as Heinrich Klaasen (17 from 15 with 1 four) was bowled by Mahima. Next batsman – Ferreira with the Titans on 64/4 with a 6.3 run rate.
Over number 13 was the one that almost broke the back of the Rocks strategy as Shaun Von Berg was hit all over the park for a total of 19 runs. putting the Titans on 93/4 with 45 runs from 41 balls left to win.
Manack saved face for the Rocks in the next over restricting the Titans to 3 runs as they sought 42 runs from 36 balls to win the match with 30 balls in hand on a run rate of 6.9. Next bowler – Viljoen.
With one run to go to their century Donovan Ferreira (22 from 13 with 2 fours and 1 six) was run out by Ferisco Adams. Titans on 99/4 with 40 runs needed from 33 balls to win. Next batsman – Aya Gqamane.
An awesome one handed catch from Hardus (Hard Hand) Viljoen as he sent Gqmane (0) back to the changing room. Caught and bowled to restrict the Titans to 99/6 and a bit of a dissaray as the Rocks supporters became more and more vocal sniffing victory.
At the close of the 15th over the Titans were on 99/6 in contrast to the Rocks who finished their 15th over on 86/4 with a run rate of 5.7.
The Titans 100 up came after a four – 103 runs after 65 minutes, 92 balls, 11 fours, 2 sixes and 2 extras. In contrast the Rocks reached 100 up after 69 minutes, 106 balls with 3 fours, 5 sixes, 9 extras. 100/5 with a run rate of 5.9.
Celebrations by the Titans were short lived as Sibonele Makhanya (37 from 32 with 4 fours and 1 six) fell to the bowling of Von Bergh, caught by Ferisco Adams. Titans needed 36 runs to win on a 6.7 run rate. Next batsman Aaron Phangiso.
So far a nail biter of a final – all the Titans need was to get under a few and get some boundaries whilst the Rocks needed maidens and wickets.
No sooners had I committed the above to paper did Aaron Phangiso (6 from 9) go for a hefty six down toward the Grahame Pollock Pavilion only to be caught by Rocks Captain Pieter Malan off the bowling of Manack. Titans on 114/8 needing 25 runs to win from 12 balls, Next batsman – Shamsi.
Into the final over came Ferisco Adams to bowl and his first ball was a winner as Junior Dala (8 from 14) played to the boundary to be caught by Kitime. 119/6 and the Titans needing 20 runs from 5 balls to win – early spectator celebrations started.
And the GBets Rocks did it – Titans close on 123/9 and the Rocks win by 15 runs.
Rocks Celebration:
Rocks set the Titans a target of 139 to win:</str
BOLAND INNINGS (20 OVERS MAXIMUM)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janneman Malan | b Williams | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.63 | |||
| Pieter Malan (c) | c Klaasen b Williams | 71 | 56 | 2 | 5 | 126.78 | |||
| Clyde Fortuin † | run out (Gqamane/†de Kock) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
| Michael Copeland | b Shamsi | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 | |||
| Ferisco Adams | lbw b Shamsi | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 | |||
| Valentine Kitime | c †de Kock b Shamsi | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 | |||
| Hardus Viljoen | not out | 32 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 200.00 | |||
| Shaun von Berg | not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | |||
| Extras | (nb 1, w 9) | 10 | |||||||
| TOTAL | (20 Ov, RR: 6.90) | 138/6 | |||||||
|
Did not bat: Siyabonga Mahima, Ziyaad Abrahams, Imran Manack |
|||||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Janneman Malan, 2.6 ov), 2-34 (Clyde Fortuin, 5.6 ov), 3-38 (Michael Copeland, 7.5 ov), 4-57 (Ferisco Adams, 11.6 ov), 5-89(Valentine Kitime, 15.4 ov), 6-117 (Pieter Malan, 18.2 ov) |
|||||||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lizaad Williams | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Aaron Phangiso | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3.25 | 0 | 0 |
| Junior Dala | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | 1 |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 | 3 | 0 |
| Dewald Brevis | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Donavon Ferreira | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | 1 | 0 |
| Ayabulela Gqamane | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 | 1 | 0 |
TITANS INNINGS (TARGET: 139 RUNS FROM 20 OVERS)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock † | c PJ Malan b Manack | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 180.00 | |||
| Theunis de Bruyn (c) | st †Fortuin b Siyabonga Mahima | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 | |||
| Dewald Brevis | c von Berg b Viljoen | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 38.46 | |||
| Heinrich Klaasen | b Siyabonga Mahima | 17 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 113.33 | |||
| Sibonelo Makhanya | c Adams b von Berg | 37 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 115.62 | |||
| Donavon Ferreira | run out (Adams) | 22 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 169.23 | |||
| Ayabulela Gqamane | c & b Viljoen | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | |||
| Junior Dala | c Kitime b Adams | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 | |||
| Aaron Phangiso | c PJ Malan b Manack | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 | |||
| Tabraiz Shamsi | not out | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | |||
| Lizaad Williams | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 | |||
| Extras | (lb 1, w 2) | 3 | |||||||
| TOTAL | (20 Ov, RR: 6.15) | 123/9 | |||||||
|
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Quinton de Kock, 1.2 ov), 2-20 (Theunis de Bruyn, 2.6 ov), 3-29 (Dewald Brevis, 5.4 ov), 4-64 (Heinrich Klaasen, 10.1 ov), 5-99(Donavon Ferreira, 14.3 ov), 6-99 (Ayabulela Gqamane, 14.4 ov), 7-103 (Sibonelo Makhanya, 15.2 ov), 8-114 (Aaron Phangiso, 17.6 ov), 9-119 (Junior Dala, 19.1 ov) |
|||||||||
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siyabonga Mahima | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Imran Manack | 4 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 3.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Hardus Viljoen | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4.66 | 2 | 0 |
| Shaun von Berg | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Ziyaad Abrahams | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferisco Adams | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 7.00 | 0 | 0 |
2022 CSA T20 Challenge Scores:
7 February 2022:
Rocks: 142/6 in 20 overs.
WP: 143/4 in 17 overs
Western Province won by 6 wickets
PoM: RE Levi and GF Linde
Warriors: 163/8 in 20 overs
Titans: 155/8 in 20 overs
Warriors won by 8 runs
PoM: JJ Smuts and T Stubbs
8 February 2022:
Dragons: 136/6 in 20 overs
Lions: 125/5 in 20 overs
North West Dragons won by 11 runs
PoM: MB Van Buuren and JN Diseko
Knights: 128/5 in 20 overs
Dolphins: 130/2 in 18 overs
Dolphins won by 8 wickets
PoM: KD Pietersen and P Subrayen
9 February 2022:
Warriors: 163/5 in 20 overs
Western Province: 164/3 after 17.1 overs
Western Province won by 7 wickets
PoM: RE Levi and MA Nabe
Titans: 158/2 after 20 overs
Rocks: 155/8 in 20 overs
Titans won by 3 runs
PoM: Q de Kock and CJ Dala
10 February 2022:
Knights: 94/9 in 20 overs
Dragons: 95/2 in 10.1 overs
North West Dragons won by 8 wickets
PoM: WB MArshall and S Muthusamy
Lions: 156/8 in 20 overs
Dolphins: 148/2 in 20 overs
Lions won by 8 runs
PoM: SSB Magala and SSB Magala
12 February 2022:
Dolphins: 211/5 in 20 overs
Warriors: 191/6 in 20 overs
Dolphins won by 20 runs
PoM: T Stubbs and OEG Baartman
Titans: 151/6 in 20 overs
Knights: 124 in 19 overs
Titans won by 27 runs
PoM: H Klaasen and LB Williams
13 February 2022:
Lions: 140/5 in 20 overs
WP: 141/5 in 19.1 overs
WP won by 5 wickets
PoM: T de Zorzi and BE Hendricks
Rocks: 182/6 in 20 overs
Dragons: 182/3 in 20 overs
Tied then Rocks won in the Super Over.
PoM: D Pretorius and FC Adams
14 February 2022:
Dolphins: 134/4 in 19 overs
Titans: 137/3 in 16.3 overs
Titans won by 7 wickets
PoM: DA Miller and AM Phangiso
Warriors: 170/5 in 20 overs
Knights: 173/1 in 18.4 overs
Knights won by 9 wickets
PoM: GJ Snyman and GJ Snyman
15 February 2022:
Rocks: 160/4 in 20 overs
Lions: 116 in 17.2 overs
Rocks won by 44 runs
PoM: PJ Malan and S von Berg
WP: 164/8 in 20 overs
Dragons: 80 in 17.4 overs
Western Province won by 84 runs
PoM: WD Parnell and BE Hendricks
17 February 2022:
Lions: 148/6 in 20 overs
Titans: 152/3 in 18.1 overs
Titans won by 7 wickets
PoM: TB de Bruyn and T Shamsi
Warriors: 156/6 in 20 overs
Rocks: 160/7 in 19.4 overs
Rocks won by 3 wickets
PoM: MJ Copeland and S von Berg
18 February 2022:
Knights: 126/8 in 20 overs
WP: 130/4 in 15.5 overs
Western Province win by 6 wickets
PoM: J Bird and J Dawood
Dragons: 135/8 in 20 overs
Dolphins: 136/3 in 18.4 overs
Dolphins win by 7 wickets
PoM: Keegann Petersen and Ottneil Baartman
19 February 2022:
WP: 140/5 in 20 overs
Titans: 1443/ in 19.3 overs
Titans win by 7 wickets.
PoM: Quinton de Kock and Lizzard Williams
Lions: 142/6 in 20 overs
Warriors: 144/5 in 15.5 overs
Warriors win by 5 wickets
PoM: Wihan Lubbe and Tsepo Ndwandwa
20 February 2022:
Gbets Rocks: 119/9 in 20 overs
Hollywood Bets Dolphins: 111/9 in 20 overs
Rocks win by 8 runs
PoM: Pieter Malan and Ziyaad Abrahams
ITEC Knights: 127/8 in 20 overs
Imperial Lions: 130/5 in 19.1 overs
Lions win by 5 wickets
PoM: Tshepo Ntuli and Mitchell Van Buuren
22 February 2022:
Dragons: 167/4 in 20 overs.
Titans: 134/7 in 20 overs
Dragons win by 33 runs
PoM: Heinrich Klaasen and Aaron Phangiso
ITEC Knights: 164/5 in 20 overs
GBets Rocks: 161/2 in 20 overs
Knights win by 3 runs
PoM: Ziyaad Abrahams and Christoffel Klijnhans
23 February 2022:
Dolphins: 148/5 in 20 overs
Western Province: 83/10 in 15.4 overs
Dolphins win by 65 runs.
PoM: Prenalan Subrayen and Khaya Zondo
Dragons: 169/5 in 20 overs
Warriors: 159/9 in 20 overs
Dragons win by 10 runs
PoM: Lwandiswa Zuma and Heino Kuhn
25 February 2022:
Dolphins: 93/8 in 20 overs
Titans: 94/4 in 14.1 overs
Titans win by 6 wickets
PoM: T Shamsi (2nd award) and D Brevis
Western Province: 118/10 after 19.5 overs
Rocks: 121/3 after 18.1 overs
Rocks win by 7 wickets
PoM: Ziyaad Abrahams and Pieter Malan
27 February 2022:
Rocks: 138/6 after 20 overs
Titans: 123/9 after 20 overs
Rocks win by 15 runs
PoM: Imran Manack and Pieter Malan
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Alan Straton
Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth.
Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
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