The CSA T20 Challenge has shown great competitiveness as the race for the top four spots in the log continues.

Dubbed the Jukskei derby, the Imperial Lions took on the Momentum Multiply Titan this morning at St George’s Park.

With Lions winning the toss and electing to bat first, a 58-run opening partnership between Reeza Hendricks (41 off 37 with 4 boundaries and 1 six), and Kagiso Rapulana (31 off 25 with 5 boundaries), provided a great start for the Lions’ side.

The world’s number 1 T20 bowler and bowler of the match, Tabraiz Shamsi (2/25 in 4 overs), struck first in the 9^th over, dismissing Hendricks for 41, and Shane Dadswell (0) in 2 consecutive deliveries.

The Titans bowlers continued to dominate as Rapulana was run out shortly afterwards by efforts from Aaron Phangiso and Quinton de Kock, followed by Junior Dala’s dismissal of Joshua Richards with only 10 runs. Phangiso dismissed Mitchell Van Buuren (9) in the 14^th over before Dominic Hendricks (4) was trapped LBW by Dewald Brevis.

The Lions were still well in the game as an unbeaten 47-run partnership between Sisanda Magala (33* off 18, 2 boundaries and 2 sixes) and Bjorn Fortuin (15*) saw the Lions finish their innings on 148/6.

Lions’ bowlers started well with the dismissal of Quinton de Kock (22 off 11) by Bjorn Fortuin, while Dewald Brevis (7) was caught by Dominic Hendricks (WK) off Malusi Siboto’s bowling as the Titans were 2/36 by the end of Powerplay.

However, a 106-run stand between Heinrich Klassen (44 off 33, 1 boundary and 3 sixes) and Theunis de Bruyn (63* off 51, 6 boundaries and 1 six), secured the game for the Titans.

Klassen was caught and bowled by Siboto in the 17^th over, with Sibonelo Makhanya coming in and scoring 8 runs (1 boundary) with the 6 balls he faced, bringing the Titans to 152/3 in 18.1 overs and winning the game by 7 wickets.

In the second match of the day, the Gbets Warriors won the toss and elected to bat first against the Gbets Rocks.

Imran Manack (1/21) struck first, dismissing Matthew Breetzke for 11, and was followed by Shaun von Berg’s surge who dismissed Wihan Lubbe (35 off 25, 3 boundaries and 1 six), Jon-Jon Smuts (12), and Lesiba Ngoepe (6).

A 75-run partnership between Tristan Stubbs (47 off 30, 3 boundaries and 3 sixes) and Diego Rosier (31 off 22, 2 boundaries and 1 six) anchored the innings for the home side. But Hardus Viljoen ended the gearing partnership after he dismissed Stubbs (LBW) and Rosier was run out trying to secure a 2^nd run-in with captain, Sinethemba Qeshile (5*) to see Warriors end their innings on 156/6. 

The Rocks ran into trouble early in the innings with the early dismissal of Janneman Malan (0), who was dismissed by Jon-Jon Smuts (1/16 in 4 overs) in the first over and Pieter Malan (4) dismissed by Tsepo Ndwandwa (2/33 in 4 overs) in the 2^ndover.

Rocks solidified their partnerships in the middle, first with a 51-run stand between Clyde Fortuin (27 off 17, 5 boundaries), and Ferisco Adams (27 off 17, 3 boundaries and 1 six), followed by a 56-run stand between Michael Copeland (40 off 38 with 3 boundaries) and Christiaan Jonker (30 off 25 with 2 boundaries and 2 sixes).

Akhona Mnyaka (2/27 in 3 overs) dismissed Copeland (caught by Rosier), before trapping Jonker for an LBW. Hardus Viljoen (18*) and Shaun von Berg (6*) held the fort at the end to see the Gbets Rocks finish the game on 160/7 with 2 balls to spare and Rocks winning the game by 3 wickets.

Tomorrow, the 5^th round of the CSA T20 Challenge continues with the below fixtures:

10h00: ITEC Knights vs Six Gun Grill Western Province Blitz

14h30: Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs North West Dragons