Match Center

Bring on the confetti! The Highveld Lions are the champions of the 2021 CSA T20 Challenge. Not that they did not deserve it but they have beaten a side which was looking dominant throughout the competition and set to win it too. But in the final, the team which held its nerve better, won. What a final it was too. A game to savour. That ends our coverage for this domestic tournament from South Africa. Hope you enjoyed the same and looking forward to your company for more. We are done, but you can hop across and catch the action from the Pakistan Super League going on. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Victorious Highveld Lions skipper, Temba Bavuma, says that being called as champions sounds very good. Says that the Lions started well in the tournament but had to find their way through, adapting to different wickets, which were in no way similar to the ones at the Highveld. Is proud of his side for bringing out its best in the final. Admits that the things were a bit tensed during the chase, with the wicket getting harder and harder to bat on and will take the win. Is happy with his team to reacting positively for every challenge thrown at it. Wants to congratulate the ones who played and also those, who were a part of the squad, along with the management.

BOWLER OF THE MATCH, Kagiso Rabada, says that it was a great start by Bjorn Fortuin, against a team which was batting well upfront. Details that the Highveld Lions just kept attacking and were very ruthless, not allowing any substantial partnerships to develop, feeling very proud of the bowling group. Says that the wicket was invariable, so the bowlers did not have to do much, but just be disciplined. Looking at the scorecard, Rabada says that had they taken their foot off the gas and the target had been 120, it might have been a different result. On his practice last evening, Kagiso does not want to give any insights on what was he actually practicing and how did that help him in this game.

BATSMAN OF THE MATCH, Wiaan Mulder, says that there was a lot of pressure on the lower order. On the wicket, it says it was very difficult to bat on, the ball was not coming onto the bat and reckons that 115 was a winning score on this deck. On his own batting plans, Mulder says that he looked to target Prenelan Subrayen, in the 18th over, as he was an off spinner and that worked in his side's favour. On his conversations with his partners during the collapse, Wiaan says that is heart was pounding but he tried to keep calm. On his feeling of winning a final for his side, WM says that he is over the moon, along with his team.

The Highveld Lions saved their best for the last. They started on the best possible note, with Bjorn Fortuin striking on his very third ball and the Lions just stepped up a notch from there on. Kagiso Rabada was at his menacing best, taking 3/12 in just 4 overs, which broke the back of the Dolphins. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

Tough pill to swallow for the Dolphins. They were unbeaten throughout the tournament but lost at the final hurdle. They fought hard with the ball, making a good fist of defending 107 but their batting had put up a poor show. In the end, perhaps one good partnership might have won them the game. Except Prenelan Subrayen, every bowler was brilliant for his side.

However, just when it seemed like the bowling side was getting on top, along came Wiaan Mulder. He showed nerves of steel as he gutted it out on a pitch very difficult to bat upon. He received good support from Delano Potgieter and the duo nearly saw them through, before Potgeiter got out, but Mulder batted through.

108 to win. Under-par target, surely? Of course, it was. But a final can play tricks on your nerves. After the early loss of Ryan Rickelton, the Lions steadied themselves through a 36-run stand betweeen Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma. At 61/1, 47 needed from 59 balls, the Lions were coasting through. But then, Bavuma fell and that led to a flurry of wickets. Reeza fell too and suddenly, the Lions had lost 4/19 in 31 balls. The Dolphins had a sniff.

Wow. What a final we have had. The Highveld Lions were always expected to win, chasing 108, but we never expected the game to go this far! They have taken the whole of 19 overs to get through and hearts go out to the Dolphins. What a fight. Might have gone down but this is just the kind of final one expects to watch. Low-scoring one, but a thriller nevertheless.

FOUR! The Highveld Lions win by 4 wickets and are the champions of the 2021 CSA T20 Challenge! A short ball, around middle, Bjorn Fortuin backs away and pulls it over mid on! Punches his fists in the air, before embracing Mulder. What a game!

Full, outside off, driven down to long off for a single.

Bjorn Fortuin is in at number 8. He too, can bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wicket number 6 balls but Mulder will be on strike for the next ball. A short ball, around off, Delano Potgieter looks to pull but the ball gets high on him. He skies it high up in the air and Ruan de Swardt takes it at deep square leg. 5 more needed from 8 balls. Ottniel Baartman has given his heart out for his side.

Outside off, driven towards long off for a run.

Backs away, swings hard, looks to pull, mistimes it, but it is over the bowler, down to long off. A single taken.

A length ball, around off, Wiaan Mulder looks to swing hard but gets a thick inside edge towards short mid-wicket.

Ottniel Baartman to bowl the 19th over. 3-0-13-1 so far.

Comes down the track, takes it on the full and whips it through wide long on for a couple. 4-0-34-1 for Prenelan Subrayen.