We are in the day and age where T20 leagues begin around the world seemingly every month and it is the turn of the South African tournament to begin on Saturday. It does so without a host sponsor and with plenty of negative press around the event but once the cricket begins the six sides involves are sure to deliver another exciting event.
Recent Winners
2015 – Titans
2014 – Cape Cobras
2013 – Dolphins
2012 – Highveld Lions
2011 – Titans
2010 – Cape Cobras
2009 – Warriors
2008 – Cape Cobras
2007 – Titans
2006 – Highveld Lions
The Format
The tournament begins in a league phase with the six sides playing the other five home and away to give each 10 group matches. At the end of the league the team who tops the table heads through to the final which they host. The second and third sides play a semi-final at the home of the second placed side for the right to meet the table toppers in the final.
Titans
Captain – Albie Morkel
Key Men – Henry Davids & Chris Morris
The defending champions will have to make do without Quinton de Kock this season as he is going to spend much of the event away with the Test side in Australia. Chris Morris could miss the first few matches too which isn’t ideal. They are the favourites to successfully defend the title but to us it looks a stiff ask.
Dolphins
Captain – Khaya Zondo
Key Men – Kevin Pietersen & Andile Phehlukwayo
It took something special from Mosehle in the final to deny the Dolphins last year but they were never the same side after Kevin Pietersen left them midway through the tournament. He arrives halfway through this campaign and they will get Keshav Maharaj back then too so if they are in the mix we can expect them to finish well. That makes them dangerous.
Cape Cobras
Captain – Justin Ontong
Key Men – Kieron Pollard & Rory Kleinveldt
The Cobras will be eager to get the title they won back in 2014 back in their trophy cabinet and they have been boosted by the last minute inclusion to their squad of Kieron Pollard. With Northamptonshire duo Richard Levi and Rory Kleinveldt already in situ and solid bowling options such as Beuran Hendricks and Wayne Parnell on show they should go well especially if they see Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Vernon Philander when they get back from Australia.
Knights
Captain – Theunis de Bruyn
Key Men – David Miller & Robin Peterson
The Knights are the improvers in South African cricket this year and why wouldn’t they be with the number of players they have signed. In this format of the game the acquisition of David Miller should be a good one and assuming that CSA let Rilee Rossouw feature when he’s back from Australia the Knights look strong with the bat. The concern comes with the ball though.
Highveld Lions
Captain – Aaron Phangiso
Key Men – Mangaliso Mosehle & Hardus Viljoen
The Lions were once the force in South African T20 cricket but those days look to be behind us and even though they made the signing of the star of last year’s final in Mangaliso Mosehle they look up against it this year. It is never easy to go to the Bullring and win for opposing sides but this looks one of the weaker Lions’ line ups for a while.
Warriors
Captain – JJ Smuts
Key Men – Colin Ingram & Simon Harmer
JJ Smuts brings a lot of T20 experience to the side and how he captains the Warriors will be crucial. In Colin Ingram he knows he has one of the best batsmen in the South African game and when Kyle Abbott returns from Australia he could be the pick of the bowlers in the country at the minute in this format but in between there isn’t as much as I feel they need to win the tournament.
Betting
It is always a good watch this tournament and while the overseas players and the status of the tournament isn’t of the standard we see in other events it should provide us with five weeks of exciting, high octane cricket.
I’ve got this tournament between two sides – Dolphins and the Cape Cobras and I think the winning momentum the Northamptonshire duo of Levi and Kleinveldt provide coupled with the proven quality of Kieron Pollard and South Africa stalwart Wayne Parnell not to mention Beuran Hendricks who has played in the IPL before I think the Cobras will prevail.
I always want the best bowling attack to be on my side and I think the Cobras have that but with Levi, Pollard, Ontong and Parnell around before Duminy, Amla and others return from international duty they lack little with the bat too. They’re my idea of the champions this season.
Tips
Back Cape Cobras to win South African T20 Challenge for a 2/10 stake at 5.50 with Boylesports
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