Venue: Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Date: Friday 19th – Monday 28th February
Tournament Preview
This tournament is expected to be fiercely contested because most of the established Proteas players have been conformed to play. The domestic 20 over competition will see the likes of Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj and Heinrich Klaasen in action. Players like Rabada, Markram, Elgar, Maharaj, Ngidi and Nortje will be fresher as they were not part of South Africa’s limited overs series against Pakistan in Lahore. It will be strength against for the Lions, Titans, Dolphins, Cobras, Knights and the Warriors who will be looking honours in this tournament that will be played in a bio-secure environment in Durban.
CSA T20 Challenge Outright Winner Odds:-
Lions – On paper, the Lions looks solid with good balance between bowlers and batsmen and coach Wandile Gwavu’s side is going to be difficult to beat during the tournament if they click. To live up to their favourites tag, the Lions are going to rely heavily on players like captain Temba Bavuma, Reeza, Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada and Lutho Sipamla.
Dolphins – Playing on familiar home conditions, the Durbanites are also counted as pre-competition favourites. Familiar conditions aside, the Dolphins have also assembled a competitive side that will be led by premier South African Test spinner Keshav Maharaj. During heat of battle, Maharaj will call on the likes of Khaya Zondo, Kerwin Mungroo, Robbie Frylinck, Keegan Petersen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Senuran Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Eathan Bosch and Ottneil Baartman.
Titans – The Titans have dominated the domestic scene in terms of winning trophies of the past few years and they have players who knows how to win tournaments. It is also a big opportunity for coach Mandla Mashimbyi and his assistant Geoffrey Toyana who will rely heavily on the leadership of Heinrich Klaasen. Kllasen captained South Africa during the 2-1 T20 series loss to Pakistan recently. Other key players for the Titans are Theunis de Bruyn, Henry Davids, Chris Morris, Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Junior Dala, Simon Harmer, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Lungi Ngidi.
Cobras – Going into any tournament, the Cobras cannot be discounted as no-hopers because they have what it takes to rise to the occasion. This time around, coach Ashwell Prince has assembled a good team to be led by Tony de Zorzi and boasts the likes of Christiaan Jonker, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne, Tshepo Moreki, Ziyaad Abrahams and Zubayr Hamza. They are outsiders to win this tournament but they are certainly going to be difficult to beat during the tournament.
Knights – They don’t big names like the Titans, the Lions, the Dolphins and the Cobras but they are not going to be easy to beat. They will be captained by Pite van Biljon, who was part of the Proteas T20 squad that lost to Pakistan, and they will have the fit-again Gerald Coetzee in their ranks. They also have Jacques Snyman and the vastly experienced Farhaan Behardien, Shaun von Berg, Jonathan Vandiar and highly rated youngster Wandile Makwetu.
Warriors – Just like the Knights, the Warriors does not have star power but the team has a good mixture of experience and youth to trouble anyone who comes their way. They have taken a brave decision of entrusting the young wicketkeeper/batsmen Sinethemba Qeshile as their captain he will be working closely with Jon-Jon Smuts and Anrich Nortje. Other important players for them are going to be Gihahn Cloete, Wihan Lubbe, Lesiba Nqoepe, Ayabulela Gqamane, Glenton Stuurman, Tshepo Ntuli and Mthiwekaya Nabe.
CSA T20 Challenge Betxchange.com Best Bets:
Top Pick- Lions: 4.00
Outside Pick – Cobras: 6.50
