Our cricket writer looks at Wednesday's two CSA T20 Challenge matches and tips a pretty safe looking 1.96 double.
Three matches, three winning bonus points. This weekend’s CSA T20 Challenge fixtures weren’t as competitive as many had hoped they would be but were full of entertainment nonetheless!
Wednesday will see two more fixtures taking place with the BuildNat Cape Cobras taking on the Multiply Titans in Paarl while the winless Hollywoodbets Dolphins and bizhub Highveld Lions clash at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
Wednesday 16 November
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 7/10 | Tie 35/1 | bizhub Highveld Lions 23/20
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins got their first match of the 2016/17 CST T20 Challenge off to a pretty ordinary start, losing by seven wickets against the Warriors at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead. The KZN side’s innings saw a couple of starts without anyone really kicking on.
As a result, they could only post a meager 115 in their 20 overs. To be fair to the Dolphins, the Warriors were excellent with the ball. Andrew Birch and Solo Nqweni were the pick of the bunch taking a combined 30-5 off their seven overs. The home batsmen simply didn’t have any answers as wickets fell at regular intervals.
The pick of the Dolphins’ players was probably the newly capped Protea, Andile Phelukwayo who was sound with the bat and world-class with the ball. The 20-year-old only bowled two overs, conceding just three runs and accounting for wickets of Colin Ingram and Somila Seyibokwe.
The Lions never really stood much of a chance against a Titans side that will take some stopping in this competition. Willem Mulder and Matt McGillivray copped some serious abuse as the Titans posted an imposing 194-4 from their allotted overs. Heino Kuhn top scored with 83 from 52 balls while Quasim Adams, Albie Morkel and Farhaan Behardien all contributed in the middle order to effectively take the game out of the Lions’ reach.
The Johannesburg franchise’s chase lacked any real threat with the exception of Rassie van der Dussen whose 51 at the top of the order along with Hardus Viljoen’s 41 ensured that the Lions at least reached 152-8 in their 20 overs.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins have the better overall squad although Grant Morgan will be all too aware of the threat that Eddie Leie and Aaron Phangiso pose with the ball. There’s no doubting the fact that if the KZN side’s top order fires, they could put on a massive score. Look for big improvements from Cameron Delport, Khaya Zondo and Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
Morgan will also likely have a quite word with Imran Tahir who delivered one of the worst spells that the Kingsmead faithful have ever seen the Pakistani-born leg-spinner bowl. Having said that, Tahir is a world-class player and will bounce back against the Lions.
While the Lions put in a better – albeit losing performance – at the weekend, the Dolphins still look to have the better balance. Back the coastal franchise to open their account at 7/10.
BuildNat Cape Cobras 23/20 | Tie 35/1 | Multiply Titans 7/10
The BuildNat Cape Cobras were comprehensively beaten at the weekend by a VKB Knights side who look as though they could go all the way this season. The Titans, as I’m sure you would have gleaned from above, brushed aside their Highveld rivals with minimal fuss at the Wanderers on Saturday.
The behind-the-scenes issues at the Cobras seem to have had an adverse effect on the team’s performances this year. They are without a win in the Sunfoil Series and were easily dispatched by a Knights team, who on paper are probably inferior to Paul Adams’ charges.
Kieron Pollard was disappointing with the bat while the usually reliable Richard Levi and Justin Ontong only managed 26 runs between them. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Cape side, however, as Keegan Petersen continues to impress after graduating to the franchise team from Boland. His 29-ball 39 was excellent and will give the Cobra’s selectors something to think about once Dane Vilas gets back from international duty with the Proteas.
While the Cobras are by no means pushovers, the Titans are a much better side and could easily go through this entire tournament unbeaten if their first game was anything to go by. As such, the Titians are confidently tipped to win here at 7/10.
At 7/10, neither of the above verdicts offer punters much value. Take the double instead at 1.96/1.