Spin bowler Junaid Dawood is pleased that the Central Gauteng Lions have gained some momentum in this season’s T20 Challenge. KHUNULOGO MPOLOKENG reports.
The Lions moved to third on the log after their nine-run win over the KZN Dolphins on Sunday, which was their second win on the trot.
They restricted the Dolphins to 147-8 in their 20 overs, after winning the toss and setting them a target of 157.
Dawood took the important wickets of the Dolphins’ top-scorers Marques Ackerman (32) and wicketkeeper Tshepang Dithole (26) to finish with figures of 3-22 in his four overs.
“Very pleased to have taken their wickets; we identified them as two impact players, and it was important that we struck them early before they got going,” Dawood said.
“I’m just happy to get the opportunity to play the game, to be on the field. And I must give credit to our fast bowlers who have set things up for me and have made my job much easier.”
It was the second match in a row in which the 28-year-old finished with the best bowling figures, following his five-for in the Lions’ 62-run win over the EP Warriors on Friday.
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Having suffered a big loss against the Northerns Titans in their season opener, the Lions are now on nine points, three points behind the table-topping North West Dragons.
The top four teams on the log at the end of the single-round league phase will advance to the semi-finals.
“It was very important that we won this game, momentum is everything,” said Dawood. “Probably a bit tighter than we would have liked, but I always backed our boys to get us over the line. It was not an easy wicket to just come in and whack the ball, so I backed our boys all the way.
“And now we go on the road, and hopefully we can get two more wins.”
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Dawood acknowledged that this season’s format, which will see the eight teams playing seven matches less than last season, is not ideal.
“It’s not enough cricket, it should have been a double round like last season, in my opinion. You lose three games and you’re basically out of it.
“But not only that, but it’s also about the volume of cricket that the guys need to be playing: seven T20 games in a year is too little, especially given how much T20 cricket is being played in the world.”
Photo: Gallo Images
