An update on the South Africans’ involvements in the three T20 leagues currently happening around the world.
NATWEST T20 BLAST
With 211 runs from 10 innings at 21.10, Dolphins blaster Cameron Delport hasn’t been in the best form with the bat for Leicestershire this season, but this was certainly his best outing so far, as he backed up his 26 with bowling figures of 3-19 to earn Leicestershire their fifth victory of the season.
The 48-run victory over defending champions Northants kept them in the hunt for a spot in the Finals Day, as Delport and Luke Ronchi amassed 50 in the first five overs, before Delport departed for 26 off 16 balls. They eventually got to 193-5. Northants were never in it, as Richard Levi only scored 12, with Adam Rossington’s 67 the only meaningful contribution. Rossington was Delport’s first victim, before picking up season-best figures of 3-19. Pretoria-born Matt Pillans put the nail in the coffin with the wicket of Rory Kleinveldt for one.
Hampshire meanwhile, lifted themselves to the top of the South Group with a six-wicket victory over bottom-feeders Kent. Solid bowling efforts from 36-year-old Capetonian Gareth Berg (1-29) and Kyle Abbott (2-25) restricted Kent to 167-7, before Hants knocked off the runs in 17.2 overs.
Northamptonshire vs Leicestershire scorecard
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE
The second edition of the Kia Super League got under way on Thursday, as Sune Luus and Mignon du Preez made their first starts in the tournament, without too much involvement.
The Vipers lived up to their name as the defending champions and favourites with a nine-wicket victory over Storm in what was a repeat of the 2016 final. Storm were bowled out for 70, and while Du Preez was pencilled in at No 5, she wasn’t required as New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates did the damage with 47 off 31 balls inside nine overs.
In Leed, meanwhile, the Yorkshire Diamonds got off to a good start in the tournament with a 28-run win over Lancashire Thunder. With Luus set to come into bat at No 10, she didn’t get the chance as the Diamonds posted 162-4. Her bowling services strangely weren’t required either, as Thunder were restricted to 134-7 from their 20 overs.
Southern Vipers vs Western Storm scorecard
CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE
It’s been a quiet stint all round for Robbie Frylinck in the CPL so far. His debut for the Knight Riders saw him score five in a four-wicket defeat to the Jamaica Tallawahs, before bowling one over for 22 runs in the next match against the Warriors. His side did end up winning this time though, as young Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan notched up figures of 4-28, before Colin Munro’s 47-ball 70 blasted them to a seven-wicket win.
It lifted them to the top of the standings, with three wins from their four matches so far. Eddie Leie is expected to be in action for the St Lucia Stars on Saturday night, while Tabraiz Shamsi will link up with the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots after the SA A series against India A.
Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders scorecard
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images