Lions join Warriors in CLT20 glory Print E-mail
Category: Domestic Leagues
Written by Luke Tagg   
Sunday, 07 March 2010 16:57
The Highveld Lions emulated the Warriors by winning the second leg of their Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final for a clean sweep against the Titans on Friday night, becoming the second South African side to gain entry into the 2010 Champions League Twenty20.

The returning South African pace duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were thrashed to all parts of SuperSport Park by Neil McKenzie, Jonathan Vandiar and Zander de Bruyn, before Richard Cameron - playing in only his third T20 game - cleaned up the Titans with 4/23 in his 4 overs.

The Lions won the game by 10 runs, ensuring they didn't have to go to a third game decider. No matter what happens in the final against the Warriors next Friday, they have achieved a place in the CLT20 and can now showcase their talents to the world.

It was a regular rags-to-riches story for The Little Team That Could, who seemed dead and buried in the competition well before the playoffs. They have just one international player in their side - Alviro Petersen - and he was away in India for most of their campaign.

The Lions haven't won staggering amounts of silverware in recent times and I don't expect them to beat the Warriors nor win the CLT20. But they have played some classic T20 cricket and you can't argue with a 2-0 semi-final shakedown. That's comprehensive.

They also appear to be pulling something of a Lazarus act in terms of player comebacks - Neil McKenzie is not the most in-demand T20 cricketer on the planet yet has been instrumental this season in building big opening partnerships.

In the second leg of the semi-final he and Vandiar put on 70 runs in 5.2 overs before Mac got out and set up the Lions' unassailable 186/5. That sort of batting will set most teams a winning total.

New captain Thami Tsolekile has also had a season of resurrection - brilliant behind the stumps and delivering small-but-useful innings with the bat.

Ethan O'Reilly has burst onto the scene with a string of impressive performances, bowling at good pace and with vicious inswing - a season or two more from him and he'll be world class.

Everyone else has played a part in some way and it's been good old team ethic that has seen the Lions come this far.

I have no idea how they'll fare in the Champions League, although I suspect they may struggle. At least they get to play at their home base - the Wanderers.

You can't begrudge the Lions their place in the CLT20. Well... that's not strictly true. You can. Just don't.

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