CSA T20 Challenge Wrap: North West Shock Neighbours Lions, Dolphins Breeze Past Knights In Easy Win

• The second day of the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge took place St. George's Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday
• The North West Dragons took on the Imperial Lions in the early match, while the ITEC Knights clashed with Hollywoodbets Dolphins
• In a rather unexpected turn of events, the Dragons shocked the defending champions, while the Dolphins hammered the Knights

The North West Dragons forgot to read the script in their match against the Imperial Lions in the CSA T20 Challenge at St. George's Park in Gqeberha.

The Lions came into the match as the defending champions, but were well beaten by 11 runs. Needing 137 runs to win after the Dragons scored 136-6, the Lions could only muster up 125 for the loss of five wickets.

Duane Jansen (32) and Nono Pongolo (27) steadied the ship for the Dragons in their total. Cody Yusuf (2-21) was the Lions' best bowler.

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Rugby

In the Lions' chase, Mitchell van Buuren stood out with the highest score of the match at 65, while Joshua Richards was the next highest scorer with 23. Johannes Diseko (2-17) was impressive in strangling the Lions' chase.

IMPERIAL LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Mitchell van Buuren, Shane Dadswell, Ruan Haasbroek (wk), Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto (capt), Codi Yusuf, Tshepo Ntuli

NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Nicky van den Bergh (capt & wk), Heino Kuhn, Dwaine Pretorius, Johannes Diseko, Nono Pongolo, Chad Classen, Senuran Muthusamy, Wesley Marshall, Lesego Senokwane, Duan Jansen, Caleb Seleka

Later in the day, the HOLLYWOODBETS Dolphins romped to an eight wicket victory over the ITEC Knights.

Needing just 129 for the win, the Dolphins reached 130 for the loss of two wickets in 18 overs.

Raynard van Tonder (38), Farhaan Behardien (36) and Pite van Biljon (25) were the top scorers as the Dolphins reached 128/5. Prenelan Subrayen was excellent in claiming one wicket for just 13 runs in his four overs.

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Cricket

Keegan Petersen (45), David Miller (34) and Roelefsen (27) all chipped in as the Dolphins made light work of the opponent's total. No one stood out for the men from the Free State in defending their modest total.

ITEC KNIGHTS: Farhaan Behardien, Patrick Botha, Patrick Kruger, Gregory Mohlokwana, Mangaliso Mosehle, Alfred Mothoa, Migael Pretorius, Jacques Snyman, Pite Van Biljon, Raynard Van Tonder, Nealan van Heerden

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Grant Roelofsen, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ottneil Baartman, Ruan de Swardt, Odirile Modimokoane, Keegan Pietersen

Warriors upset Titans in tense classic, Western Province swats Paarl Rocks aside

The Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge returned to television screens in an explosive manner.

Pencilled in to take place in the bio-bubble of the St. George's Park Stadium in Gqeberha, Eastern, the opening fixtures were between the Six Gun Grill Western Province and the GBETS Rocks, and the Momentum Multiply Titans and the home side GBETS Warriors.

As reported on Sports Brief, a small restricted crowd was allowed into the stadium, the first such instance since March 2020 when Australia toured the country.