Abhai Sawkar highlights some of the top performing underrated players from the last two Mzansi Super League campaigns.

The gradual rise in quality of the Mzansi Super League has propelled a number of consistent performers towards their apex.

Several cricketers have reaped well-deserved rewards – some received a first-time national call-up, some got a chance to reboot their international stints, and others have moved further up the hierarchy in domestic cricket.

With that being said, there have been quite a few cricketers that have fared reasonably well but haven’t been in the spotlight that often. Others have looked promising but couldn’t regularly break into their team’s playing XI.

Let’s embark on another journey down the MSL memory lane – introducing the underrated MSL players:

Dean Elgar
2018 MSL – 202 runs @ 33.66, 1 half-century, best of 79*
2019 MSL – 216 runs @ 36, 2 half-centuries, best of 88*

The experienced Proteas Test opener has made a name for himself as a gritty and tenacious opening batsman who can weather the storm in tricky conditions. However, Elgar the T20 player has played more than just a few enterprising knocks in the MSL for the Tshwane Spartans.

Around halfway through the 2018 tournament, Elgar stroked his way to a superb unbeaten 79 to ace a steep chase against the Jozi Stars, who were the favourites. Even though he finished just outside the top 10 in the run charts, his contributions came at a healthy strike rate just a shade above 130. He also counterattacked with a 21-ball 32 against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, providing the necessary middle-overs boost.

In the following year, it seemed apparent that he resumed from where he had left off. He may have bagged a golden duck in the washed-out second game, but a tremendous 88* (also his highest T20 score to date) with 7 fours and 2 sixes against the Paarl Rocks further exemplifies his underappreciated exploits in the shortest format.

While he didn’t hit a whole lot of boundaries, he adeptly and frequently rotated the strike with Theunis de Bruyn to set up a solid base to power through a chase of 187.

In the very next game, a 37-ball 57 set up an imposing target in a shortened game against the Durban Heat – despite the fact that game was washed out and had no result, the Heat had lost a few early wickets. Elgar’s dogged demeanour and well-crafted innings provided stability for the Spartans. Even though it was a relatively leaner run in the subsequent games, he’s done more than adequately well. His cumulative strike rate of 123 may not be at par, but the anchor role is tantamount to striking the lusty blows in T20 cricket.

If there were doubts about his adaptability to the shorter versions of the game, there’s proof of marked improvement. He may be 32, but another strong outing in the next MSL could make him a contender to potentially enter T20I plans, albeit a bit of an outside choice. It’s a bit of a bold claim, but given the recency bias, the vast majority of the recent Proteas debutants in the shorter formats have all made it through the MSL.

ALSO READ: THE GREAT DEBATE: DEAN ELGAR IN LIMITED-OVERS INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Keshav Maharaj
2018 MSL – 7 wickets in 10 games @ 38.57, economy rate of 7.10, best figures of 3/24
2019 MSL – 5 wickets in 6 games @ 30.40, economy rate of 6.60, best figures of 3/15

Another first-choice Test cricketer with reliable MSL returns is the Dolphins and Durban Heat left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. With Imran Tahir on the twilight of his international career and Shamsi the premier limited-overs spinner, only one other spinner has recently taken part in T20Is: Bjorn Fortuin.

Yes, it’s indisputable that wickets are the currency for a bowler, but creating pressure with economical spells can be priceless. Maharaj has maintained a respectable economy rate in the MSL, and even though he hasn’t been rewarded with heaps of wickets, his contributions have been game-changing more often than not.

It’s performances like these that don’t exactly go under the radar, and containment of runs, especially in the middle and near the end of the innings, that can make a prominent impact on how the game swings. Several players have been written off as longer-format specialists but later have gone on to impress as all-format players. Maharaj recently made an ODI comeback against Australia, and he’d definitely be worth a try in T20Is too, with the T20 World Cup on the way.

Wiaan Mulder
2019 MSL:
69 runs @ 34.50, 1 half-century, best of 52
1 wicket @ 32, economy rate of 5.33, best figures of 1/17

Unlike the previous two mentioned, Wiaan Mulder played only in the 2019 edition, and in just a handful of games. The past couple of years have been quite eventful for the 22-year-old all-rounder – he was fast-tracked to play a few ODIs as well as a Test debut, but he suffered multiple injuries that curtailed his progress. But then again, the times at the sidelines have reinvigorated the resilient youngster to bounce back and take the initiative when key opportunities are presented.

In last year’s MSL, Mulder took part in the final five games for the Tshwane Spartans. He batted in the middle order and occasionally bowled a couple of overs in the first four games, but the Spartans took a gamble and made him open the batting in the final league game. What ensued was a doughty 52 from 41 balls, which not only created a pedestal to launch from, but also symbolized Mulder’s readiness to make an impression as soon as he received a generous chance to showcase his versatility.

The injury layovers have made the all-rounder a stronger player and person, and while he was on the road to recovery, there’s been plenty to reflect on. Mulder’s MSL sample size may be small, but he’s one to look out for when it comes to grooming raw talent.

David Bedingham
2019 MSL – 106 runs @ 35.33, 1 half-century, best of 53

Long story short, the 26-year-old Cape Town Blitz batsman was an underutilized option for the No. 3 slot. Another MSL first-timer from last season, Bedingham has established himself as a fast-rising competitor in domestic cricket. He was a late starter last year, having played the final three games for the Blitz, and he didn’t do much wrong at all.

Bedingham’s exploits across formats, especially in the 2019 CSA T20 Challenge, paved his path to the MSL. In his very first game, against the Durban Heat, Bedingham scored a handy 44 and stitched together a robust stand with opener Janneman Malan. That may have occurred in a losing situation, but he backed up the encouraging start with a top-score 53 against a strong Tshwane Spartans side. More importantly, he was able to toggle well between steadily building his innings as well as switching to high gear when required.

It was an inconsistent season for the Blitz, and in retrospect, it probably would’ve been a viable plan to give Bedingham the early backing. On top of that, Bedingham penned a season-long non-overseas contract with the Durham county team via his ancestral British visa.

It’s not a Kolpak deal and the 2020 County Championship was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’ll be an interesting decision for him on where he wants to further his cricketing aspirations. All in all, he’s a bright talent – he boasts an impressive first-class average of 46, and his multifaceted approach can be vital.

Sibonelo Makhanya
2019 MSL – 121 runs @ 30.25, 1 half-century, best of 63*

Some may remember that the 24-year-old Dolphins all-rounder played just two games for the Cape Town Blitz in 2018. Given his improvement in 2019 for the Paarl Rocks, 2018 seems like a distant memory now.

Switching MSL teams has been of significant impact for Sibonelo Makhanya. The Paarl Rocks persisted with him throughout the tournament, and he constructed his best performance in a crunch situation against the Jozi Stars. Chasing 172, the Rocks lost their first four wickets for 53, despite a reasonably quick start. With the experience of Henry Davids, Faf du Plessis, Cameron Delport, and James Vince all back in the dugout, it was on Makhanya and Kyle Verreynne to steer the ship through the tricky passage of play.

Makhanya paced his innings well, scoring boundaries at regular intervals and relying on his textbook shots to do the damage. He was facing a fairly potent bowling attack – Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, and Aaron Phangiso, to name a few. He received handy support from the other end, and his mature knock culminated in two consecutive boundaries in the last over to register a tense victory.

While he didn’t bowl much, this was the moment he was waiting for – and he delivered when things slowly began to slip away. Apart from that knock, most of his other contributions were cameos, but performances like his unbeaten 63 insinuate his improving big-game mentality and calm outlook.

After spending multiple seasons at his home franchise, Makhanya has opted to relocate to the Momentum Multiply Titans for further progress and development. Right now it’s quite evident that batting is the stronger of his two skills, but he’s working on both parts of his game to become an even more proficient cricketer. There’s definitely burgeoning potential in the determined Durbanite, and we’re bound to see more and more of him in the near future.

Gregory Mahlokwana
2019 MSL – 4 wickets in 4 games @ 17.25, economy rate of 8.62, best figures of 2/26

The ambidextrous spinner who was billed as a potential surprise package, Gregory Mahlokwana ended up playing just the four games for the Cape Town Blitz. His numbers are more than decent, and the periods when he took his wickets have resulted in key momentum shifts.

Against the Durban Heat, Mahlokwana made two crucial inroads when he dismissed Sarel Erwee and the Heat captain, Dane Vilas. While Wihan Lubbe was counterattacking, the two early wickets stymied their chase of 175. Economical spells from the Blitz pacers also helped drive the Blitz to a key win, but top-order wickets in early stages of the second innings are priceless.

Mahlokwana’s situation is that of yet another player that could have received more game time. Strangely enough, he didn’t get an opportunity to bowl in the third game he played, against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants.

On a more fortunate note, Mahlokwana is in the Titans contract list for the 2020-21 season, and stands a good chance of getting another MSL gig. His bowling repertoire is quite rare, and his teams will benefit from his mixed bag of tricks. `

Considering the fact that finding quality spinners is an ongoing project right now for South African cricket, Mahlokwana is undoubtedly another contender to watch out for.

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