The Lions successfully defended their CSA T20 Challenge crown with a commanding eight-wicket victory against the Titans at the Wanderers on Sunday. Chasing a modest target of 120 runs set by the Titans, the Lions' Connor Esterhuizen and Rassie van der Dussen led the charge, with Esterhuizen finishing unbeaten on 48 and van der Dussen contributing 44, making the chase appear effortless.
Lutho Sipamla was the standout bowler for the Lions, claiming impressive figures of 4 for 12, while Bjorn Fortuin and Kwena Maphaka each took two wickets, ensuring that the Titans’ innings was curtailed effectively. This final marked a rematch from the previous season, where the Titans again fell short against the Johannesburg-based Lions.
Looking ahead, the next T20 event on South African soil is the Betway SA20, scheduled to commence in January. This premier T20 tournament will feature six IPL-funded teams vying for supremacy in Africa’s top cricket competition.
CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki expressed his congratulations to both the DP World Lions and the ACDC Express Tuskers, who claimed the T20 Challenge and T20 Knockout titles respectively. He highlighted the excitement of T20 cricket and the growing interest from South African fans, praising the players for their performances and thanking everyone involved in supporting domestic cricket development in the country.