Johann Van Der Wath in his Northamptonshire days (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Here at World Cricket Badger, we are introducing a Team of the Week feature where we look in depth into a state, county or franchise. We will be working our way around the globe. This week we move to South Africa to feature the Highveld Lions, who have just started the 2013/14 summer.
There was a double rainbow over the Bloemfontein ground on Friday but few other positive images to comfort the Highveld Lions who lost by four wickets (D/L) to the Knights and will therefore go into the second half of the Momentum Cup programme with just one victory to their credit.
Okay, perhaps that judgement is a little harsh. Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana will surely be pleased with the way his skipper Stephen Cook batted to make 111 off 117 balls and anchor his side’s 231-5 in a 39-over innings which was twice interrupted by rain. He will also be pleased that Hardus Viljoen offered further evidence of his wicket-taking capability by removing four Knights batsmen, although the fiery seamer’s eight-over spell cost 60 runs. Much more miserly was Aaron Phangiso who conceded only 25 runs and claimed the wicket of Pite van Biljon for five.
Toyana may also point out that the Knights only reached their revised target of 256 off the last ball of the 39th over, and losing a percentage of close finishes is the collateral damage to be expected by a side playing limited –overs cricket. Nevertheless, the Knights went into this match without a victory to their credit in this season’s Momentum Cup, and while pundits are in general agreement than the six teams are more evenly matched this South African summer, it will take a colossal effort if the Lions are to qualify for the semi-final or final of the competition.
The thorns in the Lions’ paw were the Knights’ skipper Johan van der Wath and the second- wicket pair of Rilee Rossouw and Reeza Hendricks. Van der Wath took 3-44 from his eight overs as the Lions never quite broke free of the Knights’ attack. Cook hit 12 boundaries in his 147-minute century but later aggression was only provided by veteran Neil McKenzie, who made 25 off 18 balls and Jean Symes, who made the same score off 20 balls, clubbing two fours and a six in the process.
The Lions’ total was respectable enough but it was perhaps 20 runs fewer than might have been anticipated after Cook and Dominic Hendricks had added 89 in 20.5 overs, a period of cricket which was bedevilled by showers.
The Knights’ pursuit of their revised target was dominated by a 170-run second wicket partnership in only 25.2 overs between Rossouw and Hendricks. Rossouw finished with 102 off 80 balls, an innings which included 11 fours and one six, and opener Hendricks made a more sedate 70 off 88 deliveries. The enterprise shown by this pair meant that the Knights could ride out a shaky spell when they lost four wickets in five overs. Skipper Van der Wath ensured that a first victory would be achieved by making an unbeaten 23 off 17 balls at Chevrolet Park.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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