The Central Gauteng Lions will welcome back Proteas pace bowler Lutho Sipamla for their 4-Day Series match against Western Province at the Wanderers, starting on Thursday.

The Lions are third on the log, having gathered 36.68 points from their two matches, but are just 2.70 points behind the leading North West Dragons, who have played an extra game.

The Lions beat the Northerns Titans in their opening match at the Wanderers, before drawing with the Dragons in Potchefstroom due to rain interruptions and a flat pitch.

Sipamla took 4-83 in the first innings of the match against the Titans and the Bullring has been a happy hunting ground for the seamer, who has taken 35 wickets in nine matches there at an average of 25.25.

“I thought we played really well, the bowling in particular was excellent,” said Lions coach Russell Domingo of the Dragons match. “I thought the discipline was fantastic and the energy in the field was also there. North West have also been playing good cricket lately.”

All-rounder Bjorn Fortuin has been one of the Lions stars. He scored 116 off 95 deliveries against the Titans before taking three wickets with his left-arm spin in the second innings as the Titans were bowled out for 156; and then made 120 off 140 balls in Potchefstroom.

“Bjorn has been our four-day Player of the Season for two seasons in a row and he’s a fantastic bowler and a batsman with great ability too,” Domingo said.

“He’s a really dangerous cricketer and an amazing character, feisty and tough. Technically, he’s playing very well too and I’m ecstatic for him because he’s the guy you want in your team when you are in trouble.

“I would want him in every team I coach.”

With Proteas seam-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder not available for the match against WP, Sipamla will pick up his overs, while young Mohammed Manack replaces Mulder the batsman.

“Western Province will also be losing players like Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Dane Paterson and Tony de Zorzi to the Test team, so they will have a few changes,” Domingo said.

“But they are always a highly talented team, they gave us an amazing game in the five-day final last season and they beat us in the T20 Challenge this season.

“So we know it’s going to be tough against them; they have become a side that knows how to win.”

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