After two dreadful seasons MI Cape Town have turned around their fortunes and topped the SA20 table in Season 3 with a record 35 points.
Paarl Royals have been equally impressive with the two sides set to meet in Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday. Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings complete the playoff line-up with the third and fourth sides set to go head-to-head in the Eliminator at Centurion on Wednesday.
Here, Independent Media’s Zaahier Adams takes a look at who’s been hot and not during the league stages leading into the play-offs.
HOT
1 Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape) – 15 wickets at 15.8 ; Eco: 6.41
The competition’s leading wicket-taker has simply carried on where he left last season, and if the Sunrisers’ go all the way again, he could reach the 20 wicket mark again. Jansen has been particularly prolific with the new ball by striking regularly in the Powerplay.
2 Rassie van der Dussen (MI Cape Town) – 330 runs at 55 ; Strike-rate: 134.14
One half of MI Cape Town’s prolific opening partnership, it's Van der Dussen that has led the way this season. The veteran opener has transformed his game by showing greater intent, especially upfront in the Powerplay.
3 Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Paarl Royals) – 329 runs @ 32.3 ; Strike-rate: 169.11
The Season 3 sensation has burst on the SA20 scene in spectacular fashion. The teenager has blasted 323 runs at a strike-rate 169.1 and has regularly got the Royals off to a positive start with Joe Root.
NOT
1 Matthew Breetzke (Durban’s Super Giants) – 113 runs at 16.71 ; SR 103.53
The DSG opener simply never got out of the starting blocks as he failed to live up the expectations he created last season. Indicative of DSG’s poor season.
2 Matheesha Pathirana (Joburg Super Kings) – 6 wickets at 59.33 ; SR: 10.47
The Sri Lankan slinger has not lived up to the hype, especially as his team needed his services after losing their premier fast bowlers to injuries.
3 Rilee Rossouw (Pretoria Capitals) – 34 runs at 5.33 ; SR: 94.11
Rossouw has had a shocker of a tournament. The burden of leadership weighed heavily on his shoulders with Rossouw unable to get going. Matters became untenable with coach Jonathan Trott eventually having to hand the skipper’s armband to Kyle Verreynne for the latter stages of the tournament.