We take a look at 3 stand-out bowlers aged 25 and under that performed well in the CSA T20 Challenge.
Mthiwekhaya Nabe:
4 matches, 10 wickets @ 9.7, economy rate of 6.84, best returns of 4/21
In his first season for the Warriors, the 25-year-old seamer was often the go-to partnership breaker during the back end of the innings. He may have played just the four games, but he took advantage of the opportunities he received.
A 4-wicket haul against the Titans successfully helped his side defend 157, and in the very next game against the Knights, Nabe followed that up with a 3-wicket haul and an economic spell to go with it. After spending the last season on the fringes of the Cobras side, the change of scene has worked well for Nabe.
Siyabonga Mahima:
3 matches, 7 wickets @ 11.85, economy rate of 7.54, best figures of 4/18
In a largely spin-friendly event, it was no surprise that several spinners, both young and experienced,
demonstrated their ability to control the flow of runs and take wickets regularly.
It’s fair to say that the rookie Cobras left-arm spinner Mahima was the surprise package of the tournament. First of all, he’s never played franchise cricket before. In his very first game, he gave the Dolphins, the hosts, a very good run for their money with a hat-trick in the final over.
The Cobras came up short in their chase, but Mahima was one of the silver linings in what was a tough event. He would play only another two games, but he’s already made a positive impression and will likely be an integral part of the upper-tier domestic scene heading forward.
Okuhle Cele:
2 matches, 2 wickets @ 21.5, economy rate of 6.14, best returns of 2/33
You might remember the Titans speedster getting a surprise call-up to the Pakistan tour for the T20Is. At the time, he had only played 4 T20 games and was a fresh face for his new side after previously playing for the Dolphins. He never got a game in that series, but it was an experience to remember, as he got to learn from some of the more seasoned players that were in the Proteas squad.
It’s still very early days for him, but he’s shown pockets of his improving skillset in the CSA T20 Challenge. With Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, and Lizaad Williams being the first-choice seamers, Cele often bowled later in the innings. He took two wickets against the Warriors and backed it up with a superbly economical spell of 0-10 in 3 overs against the Dolphins. The Titans didn’t have the best of campaigns but Cele is one of many positives.
So far it’s been steady progress for the 23-year-old, and another strong domestic season could potentially get him back in the thick of things as far as the Proteas are concerned.
