The Lions were victorious in the CSA T20 Challenge thanks to the efforts of Hendricks and Mulder

The Lions have won the CSA T20 Challenge, adding a second trophy to their cabinet this season. They also won the first-class competition. The Lions' most recent triumph occurred just two days before the announcement of South Africa's T20 World Cup squad.

A number of Lions players are in contention for a place in South Africa's provisional squad, with Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, who were the second and third-highest run scorers in the tournament, being the most notable examples.

Hendricks was instrumental in the team's victory, scoring a 52-ball unbeaten 73 to anchor a successful chase of 166. His half-century was his fourth of the campaign, and saw him finish a run behind Rickelton on the run charts.

On a mild autumn afternoon, the Lions opted to bowl at the home ground, where they had the Dolphins in a difficult position at 103 for 6 in the 15th over. Jason Smith achieved his first fifty of the season and contributed to a 57-run seventh-wicket partnership with Eathan Bosch, enabling the Dolphins to reach a competitive score. It is worth noting that Smith scored 24 runs off legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter's final over, marking the first occasion in the competition that Peter had conceded more than 30 runs. Peter finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 20 at an average of 9.50, one behind Siya Simetu and Beyers Swanepoel, and two more than his captain, Bjorn Fortuin.

Left-arm spinner Fortuin could also be considered for inclusion in South Africa's T20 World Cup plans, particularly in light of his performance as captain of the Lions in this tournament. In the final, he took two wickets for 24 runs and maintained an economy rate of 5.85 across their 16 matches. His performance was in line with that of the Lions, who won 10 of their 14 group matches and were awarded the right to host a home semi-final and final.

Nevertheless, when Rickelton was dismissed in the powerplay for 18, Rassie van der Dussen followed shortly after for 6, and when former national captain Temba Bavuma went for 7, there may have been cause for concern. Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder achieved an impressive 85 runs for the fourth wicket, with Mulder bringing up his first half-century of the tournament to take Lions to victory.