Three Dolphins, two players each from the Cape Cobras, Lions and Warriors, one Knight and one Titan comprise SACricketmag.com‘s 2020 One-Day Cup Team of the Tournament.
1. Ryan Rickelton (Lions)
Matches: 10; runs: 511; average: 51.10
Rickelton beat Tony de Zorzi, Sarel Erwee and several other in-form openers to the first berth at the top of the order in this hypothetical XI. His 157 against the Cobras in Paarl was particularly impressive.
2. Grant Roelofsen (Dolphins, wicketkeeper)
Matches: 10; runs: 588; average: 65.33, catches: 10; stumpings: 6
Roelofsen was the leading run-scorer of the competition – and outstanding in combination with Erwee at the top of the Dolphins order. His 147 not out against the Titans was especially entertaining. He was also the most prolific wicketkeeper of the tournament.
3. Dominic Hendricks (Lions)
Matches: 8; runs: 300; average: 37.50
Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks’ presence at the top of the order left Hendricks – an opener, for the most part – to make the N0 3 berth his own. He is arguably just another good batsman at the Lions and one wonders if he wouldn’t be better placed at a more needing franchise.
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4. Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras)
Matches: 10; runs: 582; average: 58.20
Hamza enjoyed a fine stretch of form in February that yielded 58, 129, 93 and 156 across consecutive innings. He captained the Cobras through the latter stages of a disappointing campaign. In a time when the Proteas were blooding fresh faces in the ODI batting order, Hamza was arguably unlucky to miss out.
5. Dean Elgar (Titans)
Matches: 10; runs: 399; average: 57.00
Elgar relished a berth in the Titans middle order and, at 93.44, had the third-highest strike rate among the tournament’s top 10 run-scorers. Like Temba Bavuma, he is determined not to be pigeonholed as a mere four- or five-day cricketer.
6. Lesiba Ngoepe (Warriors)
Matches: 6; runs: 267; average: 53.40
With Jon-Jon Smuts at the Proteas for the series against England and Australia, the Warriors required someone else to shoulder the bulk of the run-scoring after openers Ed Moore and Matthew Breetzke. Ngoepe dutifully obliged across a campaign that included three consecutive half-centuries – and some handy Smuts-esque left-arm spin toward the end of the tournament.
7. Robbie Frylinck (Dolphins)
Matches: 10; wickets: 13; bowling average: 28.00; runs: 143; batting average: 28.60
The Dolphins’ go-to man with the ball – first up or second change – and an important asset after the specialist middle order, Frylinck continued to loyally serve the franchise well this season. This, on the back of a relatively successful stint in the Bangladesh Premier League.
8. Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins, captain)
Matches: 7; wickets: 16; bowling average: 14.68; runs: 107; batting average: 53.50
Maharaj captained the Dolphins and proved characteristically penetrative with the ball and typically helpful with the bat down the order. He was eventually rewarded with a recall to the Proteas’ ODI squad for the series against Australia and tour of India.
9. Sisanda Magala (Warriors)
Matches: 8; wickets: 13; average: 30.69
In and out of the Proteas squad due to fitness issues, Magala remained important to the Warriors throughout. Steadfast through extended spells and athletic in the field despite a hefty frame, Magala also weighed in with some important cameos with the bat down the order.
10. Thando Ntini (Cape Cobras)
Matches: 9; wickets: 14; average: 28.28
Ntini, at a mere 19 years old, was a relatively permanent fixture in the Cobras bowling attack this season. He was, at one stage, the top wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup. His four-for against the Warriors set an early precedent for what was to come.
11. Mubelelo Budaza (Knights)
Matches: 8; wickets: 18; average: 16.27
Budaza was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament and certainly the standout left-arm seamer. He was prolific against the defending champions Titans, snatching eight wickets in two matches. His key three-for, again against the Titans, catapulted the Knighs into the semi-finals ahead of the reigning title holders.
Photo: Gallo Images
