Khaya Zondo celebrated his call-up to the Proteas tour of India with a whirlwind innings to set up Kwazulu-Natal for a 35-run win over North-West in the Africa Cup T20.

He hammered 68 off just 49 balls (6×4, 2×6) in KZN’ Inland’s total of 172.

‘Getting a run of T20 matches this weekend is just what I need to prepare myself for the tour,’ he said. ‘When you are in form you simply have to cash in.’

 Zondo said that batting had been difficult against the left-arm spinners on a slow pitch, well marshalled by the accuracy of Aaron Phangiso and Bjorn Fortuin.  ‘I just tried to work singles as I was batting with left-handers at that stage and I thought they had a better chance to go for the big hits.’

 Zondo and Ruan Pretorius (51) opened up spectacularly in the last three overs. Pretorius scored 38 off 11 balls, including four sixes and a four.  The 18th over produced 17 runs, all off the bat of Pretorius, who also scored 19 of the 24 runs in the penultimate over. This included three enormous sixes, either straight or to deep midwicket, off his North West namesake, Dwayne Pretorius.

The final over belonged to Zondo who hit two fours and two sixes, was then caught off the fifth before Pretorius finished the innings with a two to reach his half-century.

Despite the efforts of  Dwayne Pretorius, who hammered 40 off 27 balls, North West lost wickets regularly and could not build a partnership.