Van der Dussen smashes 94* as Lions make hay

Rassie van der Dussen struck a blistering unbeaten 94 in 56 balls, including four fours and six sixes, to power the DP World Lions to 194 for two in their final CSA T20 Challenge match against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.

Unfortunately for the visitors, his efforts were in vain as far as the Lions’ further participation in the tournament is concerned, but it enabled his team to compile an intimidating total against a tame Dolphins’ attack that bowled far too many loose deliveries on an admittedly flat pitch.

The Dolphins won the toss and put the Lions in to bat. Although Jon-Jon Smuts escaped punishment in the opening over, Anrich Nortje, off to India for the white-ball series, was hit for 20 off his opening pair of overs and ultimately for 49 in his full spell.

Reeza Hendricks started slowly, but quickly caught up to Van der Dussen, and the pair both reached 26 after the power play (52 without loss). They took their collaboration to 78 at the halfway mark, with both men looking completely in command.

The first sign of excitement, from the home team’s point of view, occurred in the 13th over when Hendricks, having gone to his 62nd T20 half-century, was dropped at long-off by Eathan Bosch off Smuts. It was a powerful blow, but Bosch would have expected to take the catch.

He didn’t have to simmer for long, however, as Hendricks fell in the same over, well caught at deep square leg by Aryan Gopalan for 58 in 40 balls (3x4s, 4x6s). He and Van der Dussen had added 111 in 77 balls.

Connor Esterhuizen joined Van der Dussen and the Lions continued to punish the bowlers. The main interest was whether Van der Dussen could reach his sixth T20 hundred.

Sadly for him, it just eluded him. Needing nine runs in the final over, he was only able to get three with Esterhuizen perishing off the final ball from Andile Simelane for 38 (24 balls, 1x4, 3x6s).

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Marques Ackerman, Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Gomelelo Phiri (wk), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Aryan Gopalan, Anrich Nortje, Zedan Mahomed

DP WORLD LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Richard Seletswane, Connor Esterhuizen, Mitchell van Buuren (capt), Evan Jones, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Beyers Swanepoel, Zakwan Patel, Siya Plaatjie, Rafeeq Patel