Tag: Dwaine Pretorius

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SACA Celebrates Tony Irish on Receiving the Prestigious Tim May Medal of Honour

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) is proud to celebrate its founder and former CEO, Tony Irish, who received the…

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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VAN DER DUSSEN IN FOR ODI DEBUT

Bizhub Highveld Lions batsman Rassie van der Dussen is in line for his ODI debut and seamer World Sports Betting Cape Cobras Dane Paterson has been recalled to South Africa’s 14-man squad for the first two ODIs against Pakistan to be played later this month. Van der Dussen scored a match-winning fifty on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe last year, but missed out on selection for South Africa’s limited-overs trip to Australia in November, while Paterson has not played for the Proteas in this format since his debut series against Bangladesh in 2017.

Hashim Amla, who missed the most recent series in Australia while he was recovering from a finger injury, also returns to the squad but JP Duminy and Lungi Ngidi were not considered as their rehabilitation to full fitness continues.

“We need to look at all the options available to us as we get closer to selecting our final squad for this year’s World Cup,” national selector Linda Zondi said. “Rassie and Dane are two players who have been knocking strongly on the door in all formats.”

After his bright T20I debut, van der Dussen continued to make headlines during the inaugural Mzansi Super League, during which he topped the run charts with 469 runs at a strike rate of 138.75 and played a vital role in Jozi Stars’ title-winning campaign. Paterson has also been there and thereabouts for a while, having played in the T20Is against Zimbabwe and been included as injury cover in the Test squad against Pakistan.

“Those players who went to Australia and have not been selected for the first two matches – Farhaan Behardien, Aiden Markram and Chris Morris – are by no means out of the picture and they may well get further opportunities in the second half of the series,” Zondi said.

“We are very happy with the way in which our Vision 2019 is taking shape. The series against Pakistan could not have come at a better time as they will provide a very stern test for the Proteas under conditions very similar to what we will experience at the World Cup.”

South Africa ODI squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen

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MZANSI SUPER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISED T20 SQUADS

The inaugural Mzansi Super League (MSL) T20 Player Draft was held today at Montecasino in Johannesburg today.

Each team had already been allocated a Marquee Standard Bank Protea player. Today the teams made their picks from the six International Marquee Players and then filled the remaining 14 places in each squad from the foreign and South African players who had applied to enter the draft.

In the mini-round to select the International Marquee Players, the Durban heat had first call and went for Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, the No. 1 ranked bowler in the current ICC T20 rankings. They were followed by the Jozi Stars who went for Chris Gayle of the Windies. Paarl Rocks followed with another Windies player, Dwayne Bravo. Cape Town Blitz then took Dawid Malan of England followed by Tshwane Spartans with England white ball captain Eoin Morgan and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants with England opening batsman Jason Roy.

In round one proper, the Giants led off with Chris Morris, followed by the Spartans with Lungi Ngidi, the Blitz with Andile Phehlukwayo, the Rocks with Tabraiz Shamsi, the Stars with Kolpak star Dane Vilas and the Heat with David Miller.

Lutho Sipamla became the first rookie to be chosen in Round Eight by the Spartans and they followed with another rookie in Tony de Zorzi in Round Nine. Other rookies signed were Sinethemba Qeshile for the Stars, Dyllan Matthews for the Giants, Okuhle Cele for the Heat, Eathan Bosch for the Rocks, and Kyle Verreynne for the Blitz.

The resulting teams are a unique blend of both local youth and international experience which is sure to make for some very exciting cricket.

The Draft order was predetermined by a weighted Player Matrix system. The players who are eligible for the main Draft are those who entered into a binding agreement to enter the Draft.

FINAL SQUADS

(in order of Protea Marquee Player, International Marquee Player, and then the 14 draft rounds, making a total of 16 players per squad)

CAPE TOWN BLITZ: Quinton de Kock, Dawid Malan (England), Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Samuel Badree (Windies), Asif Ali (Pakistan), Farhaan Behardien, Anrich Nortje, Janneman Malan, Malusi Siboto, George Linde, Ferisco Adams, Jason Smith, Sibonelo Makhanya, Kyle Verreynne (rookie), Dane Piedt.

DURBAN HEAT: Hashim Amla, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Abbott (kolpak), Keshav Maharaj, Khaya Zondo, Albie Morkel, Marchant de Lange (kolpak), Vernon Philander, Brandon Mavuta (Zimbabwe), Temba Bavuma, Morne van Wyk, Okuhle Cele (rookie), Sarel Erwee, Tladi Bokako.

JOZI STARS: Kagiso Rabada, Chris Gayle (Windies), Dane Vilas, Rassie van der Dussen, Daniel Christian (Australia), Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Eddie Leie, Pite van Biljon, Duanne Olivier, Ryan Rickelton, Sinethemba Qeshile (rookie), Simon Harmer, Calvin Savage, Alfred Mothoa.

NELSON MANDELA BAY GIANTS: Imran Tahir, Jason Roy (England), Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts, Junior Dala, Christiaan Jonker, Aaron Phangiso, Ben Duckett (England), Sisanda Magala, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Dyllan Matthews (rookie), Lizaad Williams, Rudi Second, Carmi le Roux.

PAARL ROCKS: Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo (Windies), Tabraiz Shamsi, Dane Paterson, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle, Bjorn Fortuin, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Grant Thomson, Paul Stirling (Ireland), Tshepo Moreki, Henry Davids, Cameron Delport , Eathan Bosch (rookie), Patrick Kruger, Kerwin Mungroo.

TSHWANE SPARTANS: AB de Villiers, Eoin Morgan (England), Lungi Ngidi, Robbie Frylinck, Jeewan Mendis (Sri Lanka), Theunis de Bruyn, Rory Kleinveldt, Sean Williams (Zimbabwe), Gihahn Cloete, Lutho Sipamla (rookie), Tony de Zorzi (rookie), Dean Elgar, Andrew Birch, Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Shaun von Berg, Eldred Hawken.

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PROTEAS COMPLETE COMFORTABLE ODI SERIES CLEAN SWEEP

The Standard Bank Proteas wrapped up the Momentum ODI Series with a 200-run victory over Bangladesh in the final match at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday. The 3-0 series victory gives them the No. 1 ICC ranking in this format for the time being.

Today’s victory was marred by the lower back injury suffered by captain Faf du Plessis, who was unbeaten on 91 at the time (67 balls, 10 fours and a six), having shared a third wicket record partnership against Bangladesh of 151 with new cap Aiden Markram.

It was all that was going to stop the South African captain recording his 9th hundred in this format. At the other end of the scale Markram looked as though he had a maiden century for the taking (66 off 60 balls, 4 fours and 2 sixes) before he ran himself out attempting a second run. By a quirk of fate he was also deprived of a Test century on debut by a run out.

Du Plessis has been ruled out of the KFC T20 International series next week with JP Duminy taking over the captaincy and Dwaine Pretorius coming in as a replacement player. AB de Villiers took up the captaincy for the balance of today’s match.

Bangladesh again paid the price for not being able to take wickets up front and not being able to get a good start themselves. The absence of Hashim Amla made little difference as Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma shared an opening stand of 119 that set up the Proteas for their best total against Bangladesh of 369/6 and they only lost 12 wickets in the entire series.

When Bangladesh batted they lost their first three wickets inside 6 overs to Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson and that was virtually the end of the contest. Paterson went on to finish with career best figures of 3/44 while the two new caps, Markram and Wiaan Mulder, took 3 wickets between them.

De Kock, Amla and De Villiers made almost 600 runs between them in the series with De Kock being named Momentum Man of the Series and Du Plessis Man of today’s match.

The presence of Bavuma, Markram (who took an outstanding slip catch) and Mulder certainly added youthful energy to the Proteas fielding effort.

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SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ CRUST AFGHANISTAN

Reeza Hendricks smashed an unbeaten 173, his ninth List A century, as South Africa ‘A’ crushed Afghanistan ‘A’ by 164 runs in Pretoria to secure their second win of the tri-series.

Hendricks, who carried his bat through the innings, struck 14 fours and five sixes in his 145-ball knock as the hosts posted 336 for 5 after being put in to bat. Afghanistan ‘A’ had as many as six batsman crossing double digits, with the highest being Rahmat Shah’s 55 at No. 3. They were bowled out for 172 in 32.2 overs with Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wrist-spinner, taking 4 for 19.

Afghanistan ‘A’ were up against it right from the outset as Hendricks and Henry Davids put on 79 for the opening wicket in 13 overs to set the platform. Mangaliso Mosehle was out for 17 but each of the other batsmen got among the runs. The middle-order lift was provided by Khaya Zondo, the captain, who made a 55-ball 62 during the course of a 135-run stand with Hendricks. The last 15 overs fetched them 144.

Afghanistan ‘A’ were rocked early when Dwaine Pretorius struck in the second over to remove Javed Ahmadi. He made it a double-strike by dismissing Usman Ghani in the sixth over. Rahmat hit five fours and a six to raise a half-century, but was trapped lbw by Shamsi to trigger a middle-order slide.

Najibullah Zadran (26), Afsar Zazai (24) and Shafiqullah (16) got off to starts but fell to expose the lower order. The innings was wrapped up when Dane Paterson bowled last man Fareed Ahmad to finish with three wickets.

Afghanistan ‘A’ have now lost both their matches in the tri-series. They take on India ‘A’ in their next outing on August 1 at the same venue – the LC de Villiers Oval.

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CSA ANNOUNCE ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY SQUAD

Left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, has earned his maiden One-Day International (ODI) call-up to the 15-man Standard Bank Proteas squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, which was announced on Wednesday.

The squad will play three ODI’s against England starting with the first match at Headingley in Leeds on May 24th, before their first group match of the ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka at the Oval on June 3.

The 26-year-old Maharaj has had an impressive debut season for the Test squad and comes into the squad to bolster the spin options alongside Imran Tahir.

Morne Morkel makes a return to the limited-overs format after nearly 10 months, adding experience to the pace bowling group featuring Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, says the selectors have picked a strong squad which covers all of the combinations and conditions on offer for the eighth edition of the eight-team event. “We have been working with this group of players for the last two seasons where our key emphasis has been consistency in selection,” Zondi commented. “That has shown in how this group has performed over the last while, which has resulted in winning three consecutive ODI series.

“We feel we have a squad that covers every scenario that we could possibly be faced with on the tour. Most importantly, every player knows and understands their role and value within the squad.

“Keshav has had an exceptional debut season for the Test side and his inclusion in the squad gives us a spinner with different skills and extra batting depth. We have seen how important it is to bat deep in ODI cricket, this option will give us that cover if needed.” 

The squad will depart for England on May 16 and will begin their preparations with two 50-over tour matches against Sussex and Northants.
Standard Bank Proteas ODI squad for three-match ODI series against England and ICC Champions Trophy: Hashim Amla (BuildNat Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock – wk (Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans), AB de Villiers – captain (Multiply Titans), JP Duminy (BuildNat Cape Cobras), David Miller (VKB Knights), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans),  Wayne Parnell (BuildNat Cape Cobras), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), Imran Tahir (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius (bizhub Highveld Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans).

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PROTEAS GO 4-0 UP BUT THARANGA TAKES MATCH TO THE WIRE

Faf du Plessis played one of the innings of his life and then had to watch helplessly as Sri Lanka’s acting captain, Upul Tharanga, almost stole his thunder in a memorable fourth Momentum ODI at PPC Newlands on Thursday.

In the end the Standard Bank Proteas achieved what looked like a clear-cut win by 40 runs to go 4-0 up in the series and extend their winning home run to 13 matches but it was anything but that. Sri Lanka were right in the game until the start of the 44th over when Kagiso Rabada, as he has often done in his brief career, broke the menacing fifth wicket partnership of 79 runs between Sandun Weerakkody and Asela Gunaratne that sparked an astonishing collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last 6 wickets for 20 runs off 27 balls.

Earlier in the day Du Plessis had made the second highest score ever by a Proteas of 185 (141 balls, 16 fours and 3 sixes) – only Gary Kirsten has done better with his 188 against the United Arab Emirates at the 1996 World Cup – to set Sri Lanka what seemed an impossible victory target of 368, bearing in mind they had been unable to score even 200 in the preceding three matches.

Du Plessis became the 9th Protea to make a score of 150 or better although there have been 12 instances in all with Hashim Amla having achieved the feat 3 times and Herschelle Gibbs twice. Remarkably, all of the top five Protea batsmen in the current first-choice XI – Amla, Quinton de Kock, Du Plessis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy – have now achieved this feat.

The Proteas’ total was also the highest ever at PPC Newlands and meant that they had made totals of 300 plus in back-to-back games at this venue this season. They had previously made 327/8 against Australia in the famous whitewash series last year.

If the Proteas thought they were as good as home at the halfway stage, Tharanga certainly had other ideas. He took the lead with his consistent partner, Niroshan Dickwella, in putting on exactly 100 in the 10 power play overs with 13 fours and 4 sixes. This compared with the 59/1 the Proteas had managed at the same stage. He went on to finish with 119 (90 balls, 11 fours and 7 sixes). He and Du Plessis finished with almost identical strike rates.

Tharanga is no stranger to this sort of performance. He and the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya put on 286 in 32 overs for the first wicket against England at Headingley in 2006 and then he and Mahela Jayawardene added 213 in 38.4 overs for the first wicket against India in 2013. On the former occasion the pair posted 133 in the first 10 overs!

The Sri Lankans stayed miles ahead of the required run rate and De Villiers had to turn to Wayne Parnell for his get out of jail card. The latter made a concerted short ball attack to remove both the No.3, Kusal Mendis, and Tharanga in the space of three deliveries in a spell of 2/8 in 3 overs and he was then backed up by Rabada with 1/19 in his three that included a dropped catch that went for tour.

It was clearly going to boil down to which side held their nerve better and it appeared to be going Sri Lanka’s way when the Proteas dropped another catch in the deep to prolong the fifth wicket partnership even further.

But the match turned back the Proteas’ way when Rabada struck, Imran Tahir got two wickets in his last over, Dwaine Pretorius also got one and then Parnell cleaned up the tail to finish with the figures of 4/58 that were highly impressive in the circumstances.

It was statistically at least one of the great games played at Newlands in this format and victory here would have meant more to Sri Lanka than their success in the T20 Series. They lifted their game to a new level against what was to all intents and purposes a full strength Proteas line-up.

Du Plessis was named Momentum Man of the Match but it was an evening when it could easily have been shared.

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ZONDO AND MAHARAJ BOOST DOLPHINS LEAD

Keshav Maharaj and Khaya Zondo’s dominating first-innings performances against bizhub Highveld Lions helped HollywoodBets Dolphins consolidate their lead at the top of the table in the Sunfoil Series. Zondo struck his seventh first-class century, an unbeaten 290-ball 141 that included 21 fours, to lift Dolphins to 339 in the first innings after they opted to bat in Pietermaritzburg.

Vaughn van Jaarsveld chipped in with a brisk 53. Lions seam-bowling allrounder Dwaine Pretorius claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in first-class matches, returning figures of 5 for 54. In reply, the Lions were quickly reduced to 4 for 49. Dominic Hendricks and Pretorius brought the Lions some respectability with a 91-run partnership.

After Hendricks was dismissed for 78, Kagiso Rapulana hit a patient 52 to push Dolphins’ total to 267. Left-arm spinner Maharaj finished with figures of 6 for 86.

Entering the fourth day with a lead of 72, Dolphins set up a late declaration after posting 189 for 5 in 51 overs, taking the safety-first approach to ensure the Lions didn’t have enough time to bowl them out. Zondo struck a 139-ball 54. Left-arm fast bowler Beuran Hendricks took 3 for 48. The Lions chose not to go after the steep target of 262, as the game petered out into a draw.

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OLIVIER LEADS SACA MVP RANKINGS AHEAD OF T20 CHALLENGE

VBK Knights fast bowler, Duanne Olivier currently leads the SACA MVP rankings, with Hollywoodbets Dolphins all-rounder Robbie Frylinck hot on his heels in second place, after both players turned in match winning performances for their respective teams during the Sunfoil Series.
Last season veteran and newcomer players battled for the title of the SACA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and this season promises to provide a similarly contested race amongst the country’s best domestic cricketers.

Olivier sits at the top of both the Overall MVP rankings and the four-day Sunfoil Series rankings, although there is still a long way to go in the Sunfoil Series and the two domestic limited-overs competitions still to come. With 28 wickets in five matches, which include two five-for’s and a nine wicket haul, Olivier is the leading wicket taker in the Sunfoil Series. His contribution thus far, has earned him 167.161 points in the MVP, to keep him 3.193 points ahead of Frylinck.
Frylinck’s record breaking performance with the ball in the second round of the Sunfoil Series against the bizhub Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom, which saw him end with a South African franchise record of 14 for 62, helped him climb 20 positions with his points’ tally leaping from 18.143 to 100.990 points. Frylinck has gone on to collect 163.968 from his five matches. His consistency and contribution with the bat and ball, has kept him in the race for the MVP.
The closest bunch of chasers in the SACA MVP at this early stage of the season are: 3rd Marchant de Lange (153.297 points), 4th Hardus Viljoen (134.512 points) and 5th Simon Harmer (131.857 points).
The MVP reflects a balanced distribution of points for players based on their on-field performances. Points awarded to players are based not only on runs and wickets, but also take into account catches, captaincy and the effect a player’s performance has on the success of his team and important stages of a match.
An indication of how reflective the rankings are is that 2015/16’s SACA MVP winner bizhub Highveld Lions’ Dwaine Pretorius and runner up, Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ Keshav Maharaj have both put in strong performances for their domestic teams in the matches they have played this season. Both players have also gone on to be selected for the Proteas, with Maharaj making his Test debut in the first Test of the current series against Australia. Pretorius has already played for the Proteas in the shorter format this year and has been called up to the Test squad following Dale Steyn’s series-ending injury.
Pretorius, currently seventh in the rankings, has played three games while Maharaj is 13th despite having only played two matches for his franchise.
The SACA MVP is an internationally recognised formula that records franchise players’ contribution to each match. Results are uploaded after each round of matches and the rankings are closely followed by players. The SACA MVP is an indicator of consistency of performance in each of the CSA Domestic Competitions and can be followed on the SACA website (www.saca.org.za).

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LIONS DRAW WITH KNIGHTS

 

Sunday, 23 October 2016

Duanne Olivier finished with six wickets on the final day as the Sunfoil Series clash between the VKB Knights and bizhub Highveld Lions ended in a draw at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Sunday.

The fast bowler followed his 3/101 in the first innings with 6/93 second time around, but half-centuries from Dominic Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius and Mangaliso Mosehle meant the visitors finished on 310/9.

The Lions, who started the day on 62/2, lost three early wickets to slip to 92/5. But Hendricks went on to make 65 (154 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) and shared in a 109-run sixth wicket stand with an aggressive Pretorius (80 off 89 balls, 14 fours, 2 sixes) that carried them past 200.

It was an important stand in the context of the game, but both were part of Olivier’s haul, the 13th time in his career that he managed five wickets or more.

Mosehle’s unbeaten 67 (122 balls, 13 fours, 1 six) then proved equally vital as he anchored a 78-run eighth wicket stand that helped the Lions secure a draw that gave them 8.78 points.

The Knights took 8.88 points to move top of the table after three rounds of the season.

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RAMELA PUTS SA A IN A COMMANDING POSITION

An unbeaten century by Omphile Ramela put South Africa A in a commanding position before Zimbabwe A fought back by the close of day two of the first four-day Test in Harare on Sunday.

The Cape Cobras Sunfoil Series captain made 101 (224 balls, 9 fours) to take the tourists to 455/6 declared, with the hosts then replying with 107/1 in the 45 overs they faced in reply.

Ramela’s eight career first-class ton was all about patience as it took nearly five and a half hours to amass.

Contrastingly, there was an excellent lower-order blitz by all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who fell 11 short of a century after smashing 89 (83 balls, 10 fours, 4 sixes).

Ramela and Pretorius put on 125 for the sixth wicket, with the latter falling to the pick of the bowlers, Shingirai Masakadza (3/83).

The two other wickets to fall in the South African innings on day two were that of Test duo Stiaan van Zyl for 73 (183 balls, 5 fours) and Dane Vilas (1).

When it was time for the South Africans to bowl, the visitors managed just the wicket of Tino Mawoyo (30) in the final hour – the opener dismissed by Dane Piedt (1/23).

Vernon Philander’s return in national colours failed to produce any wickets, but his nine overs came at a cost of just 15. The Proteas’ seamer is playing his first game for his country since sustaining an ankle injury in November.

Zimbabwe’s hero of the day was Brian Chari with his 71 not out (152 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) as they closed 348 runs behind.

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SACA CONGRATULATES DOMESTIC MVP WINNER DWAINE PRETORIUS

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today congratulated Bizhub Highveld Lions all-rounder, Dwaine Pretorius, on winning its Most Valuable Player (MVP) title for his performances over the three domestic competitions in the 2015/16 season.  Pretorius finished on a total of 468, 282 points.

The SACA MVP is a cumulative points system that rewards franchise players for every run scored, wicket taken and catch held in the three franchise domestic competitions, and also takes into account the context of the match and in which the performances are achieved. Each of the CSA domestic competitions has a unique weighting for each discipline, dependant on what is considered more important in that format (for example strike rate and economy rate in the T20 format).

Following his remarkable start to the season, Pretorius’ hard work with bat and ball earned the Lion’s all-rounder a total of 641 runs and 60 wickets in all competitions. Despite picking up an injury half way through the season, Pretorius was a strong contender for the top spot throughout, and in the end, he took the overall MVP title, 31.929 points ahead of Sunfoil Dolphins left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who finished second.

“The SACA MVP is something all of us franchise cricketers strive to win because it combines what you do with bat, ball and in the field in all three competitions.  It is recognised by players as a measure of consistency throughout the season.  I’m proud to have won this but must also give some credit to my Lions teammates in helping me to do it” said Dwaine Pretorius.

The SACA MVP rankings also focus on performances in each particular competition.  Bizhub Highveld Lions paceman, Hardus Viljoen clinched the top spot in the four day Sunfoil Series MVP rankings from team mate Pretorius, doing so in the Lions final match against the Warriors. Viljoen’s performance kept him in the running for the title as he held his position at the top of the ranking for five of the nine Sunfoil Series matches he played.  He finished the Sunfoil Series as the top wicket-taker with 47 wickets.

Alviro Petersen was a runaway winner of the Momentum One-Day Cup MVP award after a record-breaking season in which he scored 726 runs, an astonishing 31% of all his teams runs. His remarkable total included five centuries, four in consecutive matches, and was compiled at an equally remarkable strike rate of 100.13 runs per hundred balls. His was the outstanding contribution in the Lions’ successful Momentum One Day Cup campaign.

The Unlimited Titans T20 captain, Albie Morkel, started the RamSlam T20 with a bang and stayed within touching distance of the top spot throughout the tournament. Morkel’s steady flow of runs and wickets, as well as his captaining proficiency, saw him edge out the VKB Knights international star, Andre Russell, by just 0.92 points.

“I’d like to congratulation Dwaine on winning the overall SACA MVP,” said SACA chief executive, Tony Irish.  “To achieve the top spot a player has to perform for his franchise pretty much week in and week out throughout the season.”

“I would also like to congratulate Hardus, Alviro and Albie for leading the way in each of the domestic competitions.  There were some pretty impressive individual performances from a number of players this season and I think Heino Kuhn’s 1126 runs in the Sunfoil Series and Alviro Petersen’s five hundreds in the Momentum One Day Cup deserve special mention.  Well done also to the entire Titans squad for winning the Sunfoil Series and the RamSlam and to the Lions Squad for taking the Momentum One Day Cup.”

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KNIGHTS VICTORY OPENS TITLE RACE

Half centuries from Reeza Hendricks and Michael Erlank helped the VKB Knights complete a comprehensive 10-wicket Sunfoil Series win over the bizhub Highveld Lions on the final afternoon of their clash in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Chasing a low target of just 115, the pair reached the mark in 32.4 overs with Hendricks ending unbeaten on 58 (112 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Erlank striking 55 (97 balls, 11 fours).

Their performance ensured the Knights forced themselves right back into the title hunt after the log-leading Unlimited Titans could only draw their game against the Sunfoil Dolphins in Durban.

The Pretoria-based side still head the table with 93.08 points, followed by the Lions (86.16) and the Central Franchise on 82.24.

The Knights also had their bowlers to thank on Sunday after they claimed the final five home wickets for 90 and fairly quickly on the final morning to raise their hopes.

Proteas batsman Temba Bavuma, on 20 overnight, barely lasted five overs without adding to his overnight total, before he was dismissed by Shadley van Schalkwyk (2/52).

Dwaine Pretorius (29) was out before him having added five to his day three score and was sent on his way by Duanne Olivier, the pick of the bowlers with 4/63. The Knights fast bowler ended with seven wickets in the match.

Once the two overnight men fell, the door was opened for the Central Franchise as they had the Lions all out for 218 in 68.4 overs. The match was effectively a three-day contest after day one at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium was abandoned due to rain and a wet outfield.

 

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HENDRICKS AND COOK LEAD LIONS VICORTY

Centuries from Dominic Hendricks and opener Stephen Cook underpinned an innings-and-78-run victory for Lions over Cape Cobras in Potchefstroom.

Having chosen to bat, Lions lost Rassie van der Dussen early, but Stephen Cook and Hendricks combined well in a 261-run partnership to propel their side. Cook and Hendricks fell for 150 and 160 respectively, but there was no respite for Cobras. Yassar Cook, wicketkeeper-batsman Nicky van den Bergh, and Dwaine Pretorious all stroked fifties as Lions stacked up 580, before declaring the innings. As it turned out, they did not have to bat again.

The Cobras, who had managed only 258 in their first dig, fared worse, after being asked to follow on. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin finished with a match haul of six wickets to clean up the lower order. Fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, who made light work of the top order, claimed figures of 4 for 42 to dismiss Cobras for 244.

Omphile Ramela Stiaan van Zyl, Wayne Parnell all had starts, but failed to push on. Parnell had a start in the first innings as well, which he converted to 62 before being pinned lbw by pacer Pumelela Matshikwe. Andrew Puttick scored 73 at the top of the order, but the middle order fell away. Lions ultimately walked away with 19.1 points to narrow the gap at the top of the table. Cobras, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom half of the table with just a solitary win in six matches.

 

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LIONS THROUGH TO NEWLANDS FINAL

 

An unbroken 128-run stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Dominic Hendricks proved decisive as the bizhub Highveld Lions booked their place in the Momentum One-Day Cup final with a comfortable eight-wicket Duckworth/Lewis win over the Warriors in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Opener Van der Dussen struck a commanding 83 (89 balls, 1 six, 6 fours) to set the early foundations, while Hendricks added later impetus with his attacking 70 (56 balls, 2 sixes, 7 fours) to aid their side to comfortably chase down the revise 174 target with 18 deliveries to spare.

There were two lengthy rain delays that also influenced the game. The first one arrived early in the Warriors’ innings – after 10.4 overs to be precise – forcing the match to be reduced to a 41 overs per side affair.

By that stage, the Warriors had lost both openers for 27 and they were dealt a further double blow after the resumption when Nono Pongolo removed key middle-order pair, captain Colin Ingram (10), and Yaseen Vallie (14), to slip to 61/4.

An 89-run stand between Jerry Nqolo, who struck a career best 63 (68 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), and Christiaan Jonker (42) lifted the Eastern Cape side to 202/8.

Pongolo (2/25) was one of four bowlers to take two wickets each. The others were Dwaine Pretorius (2/23), Hardus Viljoen (2/42) and Aaron Phangiso (2/38).

Andrew Birch, with 2/34, then grabbed the big wickets of Stephen Cook (13) and Alviro Petersen (2) to raise the Warriors’ hopes. But that was as good as it got for the visitors. Another long delay 13.5 overs into the innings and with the total on 81 meant there was a further adjustment to the total and with only 93 needed from 18.1 overs, the hosts cruised home.

They will now face the Cape Cobras in the competition finale at PPC Newlands this Sunday.

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LIONS, WARRIORS GEAR UP FOR QUALIFIER

bizhub Highveld Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana believes that starting the Momentum One-Day Cup Qualifier stronger against the Warriors in Johannesburg on Wednesday will go a long way towards deciding who will reach the final on Sunday. The two sides clash at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium with the Cape Cobras awaiting the winner at PPC Newlands.

The hosts will go into the game as the favourites due to home advantage and by virtue of ending the season in second position ahead of the visitors.

“It’s a vital game for both sides, but from our end everyone is in good spirit,” Toyana said. “Playing at home will be a big advantage for us. “But I think it will all boil down to whoever starts the game better. That will go a long way towards deciding the outcome.”

The Warriors have had a disappointing season overall, but Toyana praised the work of young coach Malibongwe Maketa, saying they were dangerous opponents. “I think Malibongwe has done a very good job there,” he added. “His partnership with Colin Ingram is fantastic and the past 12 months they’ve played some good one-day cricket.”

The Lions have some major injury worries ahead of the game with both Temba Bavuma (back) and Eddie Leie (hamstring) likely to miss out. Hardus Viljoen faces a late fitness test, but Dwaine Pretorius is expected to return from injury.

The Warriors have even bigger injury concerns as skipper Ingram nurses back and knee problems. He is being monitored closely by their medical staff. Clyde Fortuin (finger) is expected to be fit to take his place in the XI. Coach of the Eastern Cape side Maketa, insisted there were no underdogs for the clash. “To be honest, that (counting ourselves as underdogs) will be trying to hide,” he said. “I think it’s a 50-50 game.

“There’s no underdog, it’s all about going out there and executing your skills. I think our chances are pretty good. We’ve prepared well and played some good one-day cricket overall this season. I think the side that pitches up will get through.”

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2015/16 SUNFOIL SIZZLER

 

Hardus Viljoen of the bizhub Highveld Lions has bagged the Sunfoil Series Sizzler award for the first five rounds of the Sunfoil Series which currently sees The Unlimited Titans, the VKB Knights and the bizhub Highveld Lions locked in a three-way battle for four-day cricket supremacy. The Lions are the current title holders.

The Sunfoil Sizzler award is worth R15 000.

Viljoen, who made his debut for the Castle Lager Proteas in the third Sunfoil Test match against the England touring team at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, has had a phenomenal Sunfoil Series campaign taking 30 wickets in 4 matches. This included back-to-back 10-wicket hauls in successive matches against the Sunfoil Dolphins and the Warriors.

Other players who came strongly into contention for the award were his bizhub Highveld Lions team mate, Dwaine Pretorius, Werner Coetsee of the VKB Knights, Keshav Maharaj of the Sunfoil Dolphins and Tabraiz Shamsi of The Unlimited Titans.

“Congratulations to Hardus on his Sunfoil Sizzler award,” commented Cricket South Africa (CSA) General Manager: Cricket, Corrie van Zyl. “His performance in taking back-to-back 10-wickets hauls is special and earned him a fully deserved call-up to the Proteas.

“The results over the past six weeks have also shown that our domestic game is healthy, particularly if you look at the way players have taken the step up to international cricket when the opportunity has arisen. Stephen Cook’s century on debut for the Proteas underlines this point.”

The South African Cricketers’ Association Most Valuable Player index (SACA MVP) is used as the measuring tool in determining the Sunfoil Sizzler of the Month.

The SACA MVP is calculated using an internationally recognised formula which takes into account every discipline in the game of cricket.  Batting, bowling, fielding, captaining and winning are all factored in within the context of each individual match. Individual player performances in pressure situations, for example, carry more weight; thus players who deliver when their team needs them most, earn more points.

The SACA MVP latest ranking standings are updated weekly on the SACA website (www.saca.org.za), and may be viewed ‘per competition’ or by having a look at the ‘overall’ standings.

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BEHARDIEN TON RESCUES TITANS

Farhaan Behardien recorded his eighth first-class century as the Unlimited Titans recovered from a poor start to reach stumps on day one of their rain-affected Sunfoil Series clash against the bizhub Highveld Lions on 285 for seven at Senwes Park.

After winning the toss and batting in the top-of-the-table clash, the visitors found themselves in all sorts of trouble by lunch when they fell to 104 for four.

But Behardien, the stand-in captain, shared in a vital rebuilding stand of 157 with David Wiese (69) that helped them momentarily to seize the initiative.

The fifth-wicket partnership came from just 34 overs with all-rounder Wiese collecting 69, before both set men fell late on a rain-hit day.

There was even time for a third wicket in the last session, meaning the home side held the advantage by the close.

They had been in a solid position after the first session when three wickets by the in-form all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius (4-57) set them back. He included among his wickets two of the Titans’ key men – Heino Kuhn (six) and Theunis de Bruyn (18).

But Behardien and Wiese looked to have weathered the storm by taking their side to 249 for four with less than 10 overs to play.

The returning Hardus Viljoen (2-80) then struck some telling late blows to leave the second-placed Johannesburg side with the edge.

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PRETORIUS BOOSTS LIONS SPIRIT

All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius has enjoyed two memorable weekends of Sunfoil Series action for the bizhub Highveld Lions.

First he starred with the bat to deny the Cape Cobras what looked a certain win, before claiming six wickets with the ball to help the Johannesburg side secure an unlikely victory over the VKB Knights this past weekend. Those results have kept the Lions right in the title mix as they look to defend the crown they won last season. The 26-year-old admits the win this past weekend in Kimberley, which came inside three days, was a huge surprise.

“I arrived on day three thinking we are not going to bowl and will probably bat all day,” he said. “But there we were bowling before lunch and got a few wickets and it was all over just after tea, so it was a real roller coaster. “I’m just glad we were the ones that pulled off the win.”

The Lions started day three on 18 without loss, before themselves being bowled out for 94. That left the Knights needing 138 to win, but they were rolled over for just 92 with Pretorius picking up three for 37. He said they always had belief that they could defend such a low total.

“We thought it would be possible, I mean 140 on that wicket, it was going to be tough. But because we had them 50 for five in the first innings, we had that belief,” Pretorius said.

The result came a week after the same player and the Lions tail helped their side escape with an epic draw in Paarl.”Last week was crazy,” Pretorius, who made 101, added. “We decided to keep fighting and not give them an easy win. “You never know when those extra points will come in handy. I’m just really proud of the hundred I scored there, I’ve not scored too many, so that was right up there. But after I got out, we still needed the tail and I think they did excellently in the circumstances.”

 

 

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LIONS SECURE MONUMENTAL DRAW

bizhub Highveld Lions, all-rounder and current Domestic MVP leader, Dwaine Pretorius added to a third career century to his tally to helped secure an unlikely Sunfoil Series draw against the Cape Cobras in Paarl late on Sunday.

The visitors were left holding on for dear life by the close when they ended an epic final day on 287 for nine from 140 overs in their follow-on innings.

Spearheaded by a magnificent 101 from 178 balls by Pretorius, the Lions had several heroes through the day, but many plaudits will go to the final wicket pair of Aaron Phangiso and Eddie Leie. Phangiso, in particular, batted for 20 minutes short of two hours at the end for a stubborn 16 from 85 balls, while number No.11 Leie was unbeaten on one from 39 balls having batted for 48 minutes. They batted for over 14 overs together to ensure the hard work done by Pretorius, who batted for over four hours, was not wasted.

There were other heroes too for the Johannesburg franchise with Nick van den Bergh making 28 in a little over three hours. The rookie wicketkeeper and Pretorius adding 112 together for the sixth wicket in 43.3 overs.

Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen (72) and Shaylen Pillay (26) played their part too as the Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the season. They walked away with 4.04 points, but still dropped to third on the table.

The Cobras, who ended their two-game losing streak, had Robin Peterson to thank for taking them so close after his four for 88. They took away 9.04 points from the game and jumped to fifth.

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PARNELL PERFORMANCE PUSHES COBRAS TO SECOND

Wayne Parnell played the innings of his life in the shortest format to take the Cape Cobras to second place on the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge log with a 6-wicket victory over the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

The Cobras now have 20 points with two games to play while the Sunfoil Dolphins have 18 points with one match to play which is against the Cobras. This match could well decide who finishes second on the log although the Warriors are by no means out of the picture either. The Cobras match against the Warriors on Wednesday is also a critical one.

The Lions can still reach the knock-out stage but they will have to win both their remaining fixtures. The Unlimited Titans are now confirmed as the top team on the log and get direct access to a home final.

Ironically, Parnell would never have got the chance to bat at the top of the order had the Cobras not suffered yet another injury – this time a freak concussion for opening batsman Richard Levi who was hit on the back of the head while fielding.

The turning point of the match, although it was not evident at the time, came when Parnell, who opened with Andrew Puttick, was caught by Thami Tsolekile off the bowling of Hardus Viljoen. On referral the delivery was confirmed as a no ball and Parnell, who had 20 at the time, went on to make a match-winning 99 (57 balls, 9 fours and 5 sixes). The next highest contribution to the Cobras’ winning total was Andrew Puttick’s 19 which illustrates just how much he dominated the runs chase.

The Lions looked to have posted a competitive total of 153/5 after winning the toss thanks to an unbroken partnership of 53 in 4.3 overs between Thami Tsolekile and Dwaine Pretorius but in the end they had no answer to Parnell’s onslaught.

Parnell was named RAM Slammer of the day while Justin Kemp, playing his 100th game in the T20 format, was named RAM Deliverer of the day for his figures of 2/26.

Levi was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with mild concussion and kept in hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.

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PRETORIUS STRIKES IN LIONS VICTORY

Dwaine Pretorius struck four crucial blows to give the bizhub Highveld Lions the sweet taste of revenge as they beat the Sunfoil Dolphins in a RAM SLAM T20 nail-biter at Bidvest Wanderers on Sunday.

Pretorius’ 4 for 22 gave him a personal best in the format, but most importantly included the wickets of David Miller, Dwayne Bravo and Ryan McLaren as the Lions clung on to win by six runs.

The victory was all the more satisfying for the fact that the Lions had lost to the Dolphins by one run in the second round of the competition – a defeat that clearly set the young side back as they went on to lose their next two games.

This victory moved them up to fourth on the table with 12 points from six games, and gave them fresh hope of catching the top three – they are now four points behind the third-placed Cobras, who the Lions will host at the same venue in a week’s time.

By contrast the Dolphins have now failed to win in four games, and although they remain in second place, they lead the Cobras by just two points, having played a game more.

While Pretorius’ bowling swung the game in the second innings, Alviro Petersen’s unbeaten 60 from 41 balls kept the Lions in the game during the first innings as they posted 145 for six.

With Devon Conway (28) the only other real contributor, the hosts were unable to form any meaningful partnerships, as much because of their mistakes as the Dolphins’ good bowling – both Conway and Andre Malan were guilty of pulling long-hops straight to fielders.

With Morne van Wyk (20) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld putting on 45 for the first wicket while the ball was still hard, and Van Jaarsveld going on to score 42 from 28 balls, the Lions’ total looked short.

Aaron Phangiso pegged the Dolphins back by dismissing Van Jaarsveld and Khaya Zondo, but David Miller got himself in and put the visitors on track when he took 17 off an Eddie Leie over.

However, Hardus Viljoen pulled things back for the Lions with a quiet over that saw him finish with figures of 1 for 15 from four overs, and in the next over Pretorius cleaned up both Miller and Bravo to leave 23 runs required from the final two overs.

McLaren’s two fours off Lonwabo Tsotsobe in the penultimate over left 13 required off the last, which was whittled down to seven off the last two balls before Pretorius bowled McLaren to seal the game – much to the delight of the home side.

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