CSA T20 Knock Out Team of the Tournament

The CSA T20 Knock Out competition came to an end last Friday as the Knights beat the Dolphins by seven runs to win their first domestic title in ten years. We have selected our Team of the Tournament for the inaugural CSA T20 KO competition.

Matthew Breetzke

Runs 190 Average 47.50 Strike Rate 162.39

It is quite amazing to say this now, but Matthew was not in the franchise T20 Competition last season for the Warriors. In this competition though he was magnificent and showed the class that was always there. He made three fifties in his opening three games and two out of three of them were made with a strike rate over 170.

Rilee Rossouw

Runs 295 Average 98.33 Strike Rate 157.75

Rilee was a revelation and streets ahead of everyone else in the batting department, which is why he was the leading run-scorer by 105 runs. He made two fifties and one hundred. That hundred of 112* was the best innings we saw in the tournament, against a Western Province attack that included former Protea Wayne Parnell. He played all around the ground and never looked in trouble. The best former Kolpak we saw and we saw a few of them.

Zubayr Hamza

Runs 187 Average 46.75 Strike Rate 142.74

Although Western province did not make the final, Zubayr Hamza has always had the talent and range of shots to make it in the T20 format and proved it in this competition. Nevermore so than with a splendid 106 off 63 balls against the Lions attack when everyone else in the side struggled. He also made a classy fifty a couple of games later against Northern Cape.

Farhaan Behardien

Runs 166 Average 55.33 Strike Rate 144.34

The glue of the Knights side which is what Behardien was, he was also one of the main reasons they won the competition. He made two fifties, which included a 57 off 29 balls against Western Province but his most important innings of the competition was his 29 off 18 in the final when the Knights needed a partnership to make a challenging total.

Jason Smith

Runs 143 Average 143.00 Strike Rate 141.58

It is fair to say that Jason has not cracked it in the T20 format and the fact that he had moved teams at the end of last season meant that there was extra pressure on him to perform but perform he did. He made a 45* early on which showed what he can do but his 60 off 41 balls in the Quarter Final against the Warriors was easily his best when you see that nobody else in the Dolphins side had a strike rate of 100. 

Senuran Muthusamy (Captain)

Runs 110 Average 36.66 Strike Rate 119.56 Wickets 6 Average 15.33 Economy 6.06

There were some impressive captains in the tournament, but Senuran was the best, utilizing his young bowling attack well and moving his field when necessary, which showed he had clear plans against certain batters. He also did the talking with the bat and ball, which included a 62* off 38 against the Easterns and 2/12 in 4 overs in the rain-affected semi-final against the Knights when North West were unlucky not to get a full game having been on top.

Donovan Ferreira (Wicket Keeper)

Runs 152 Average 76.00 Strike Rate 153.53

There have been many talented youngsters in this tournament and Donovan is one of many who have done well. He is one to watch out for, especially as he is only 23. His only fifty in this tournament, 55 off 29 balls was impressive because of his six-hitting ability, which is something we saw from him throughout the tournament.

Ottniel Baartman

Wickets 11 Average 10.09 Economy 5.55

With an SA A home series coming up later in the season you would find it difficult to omit Ottniel. He has been bowling well for a good while now and that continued throughout the tournament. His death bowling was especially high quality and a skill most in our domestic cricket struggle with. He also finished as the joint leading wicket-taker, getting wickets on a regular basis.

Herschell America

Wickets 10 Average 10.60 Economy 6.62

Herschel was the leading wicket-taker for much of the tournament and it would have been nice if he could have kept that title all to himself. That said, he still had a magnificent tournament. How he did not have a full-time franchise contract is difficult to imagine but at least now he is being seen more with the domestic cricket restructuring. He bowled beautifully throughout, with genuine pace and showed impressive skills with a superb slower ball which he used often. 

Daryn Dupavillon

Wickets 11 Average 11.54 Economy 5.60

Although he did not have a fun time in the field, like many others in the competition, it was lovely to see a fit Daryn Dupavillon in full swing, bowling regularly at 145kph and he was the joint leading wicket-taker. His best game with the ball was his 4/18 in 4 overs against the Warriors when he dismissed the top three for a combined total of 7 runs. He, like Ottneil must be up for higher honours later in the season. 

Aaron Phangiso

Wickets 6 Average 14.33 Economy 5.54

Picking the front-line spinner for this team has been anything but easy as several spinners could have made it, including Imraan Manack but Aaron pips it for me, as he bowled that little bit more aggressively, which rewarded him. Phangiso was also playing for a weakened Titans side in the group stages and kept them in games they had no right to stay in, including a 1/19 in 4 overs against KZN Inland (Tuskers).