Hendricks stars to set steep Province chase

World Sports Betting Western Province will need 202 if they are to beat DP World Lions in their CSA T20 Challenge clash at Newlands.

Reeza Hendricks paced himself beautifully to finish 68 not out off 45 balls as the Lions racked up 201-2 on a blustery Cape Town afternoon.

He was given capable support by the assured Rassie van der Dussen (49 off 42) and Connor Esterhuizen (47 off 23), as they looked to finish their campaign on the up.

The home side came into the contest with a play-off berth already confirmed, where they will compete for the 2026 title with Dafabet Warriors, Goldrush Boland and, almost certainly, Hollywoodbets Dolphins.

It’s a different story for the Lions, whose heartbreaking super over loss to North West Dragons at the Wanderers on Wednesday ended any hopes of repeating their 2024 success.

Veteran opening pair Van der Dussen and Hendricks were steady away in their bid to set a challenging total for their hosts, after Lions skipper Mitchell van Buuren won the toss in sunny Cape Town.

Teenager Raeeq Daniels (0-25) combined with the experience of George Linde (0-22) up front for Province, as they took the lead in bowling neatly to restrict the Lions to 41-0 at the end of the six-over power play.

Hendricks looked to break the shackles when he cleared the ropes at long leg off Mbulelo Dube and Van der Dussen handed out similar punishment to Mthiwekhaya Nabe.

But they were still being kept in check by rookie legspinner Josh Breed at the other end, as they reached 77-0 at the halfway mark.

Dube finally made the breakthrough in the 13th over when he had Van der Dussen, fresh from a half century on Wednesday, bowled slogging one short of a second 50 in three days.

It helped put the squeeze on as Esterhuizen felt his way into the game.

Until he got hold of Breed that is, clattering him for successive fours then a pair of sixes, over midwicket and long on, to start the charge as 21 runs came from the 16th over.

Dube was next to cop it as wickets in hand gave the Lions all the confidence they needed.

Taking another 21 off the 17th, Esterhuizen once again targeted the onside with a boundary and a brace of maximums to leave Province on the ropes despite their disciplined start.

The introduction of Abdallah Bayoumy did the trick, striking with his second ball as Esterhuizen attempted one heave too many and departed three shy of his half century, caught at long off by Jiveshan Pillay.

Hendricks was still there, though, reaching his half century off 40 balls as he took charge with a four through extra cover and a six over midwicket to keep the heat on in the 18th.

The 36-year-old sent Nabe the distance for good measure, as Evan Jones (25 off 10) initially took the backseat role at the other end following his record-busting efforts in Johannesburg two days previously.

But he had his moment in the final over when he launched the increasingly hapless Dube for six and four through long on, then the final insult over deep backward square leg, just to prove he can do it at sea level as well.

WORLD SPORTS BETTING WESTERN PROVINCE: Eddie Moore, Valentine Kitime, Joshua van Heerden, Daniel Smith (capt, wk), George Linde, Jiveshan Pillay, Abdallah Bayoumy, Josh Breed, Raeeq Daniels, Mbulelo Dube, Mthiwekhaya Nabe.

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.