Brilliant super over by Magala keeps Lions alive in T20 Knock Out | Sport

Sisanda Magala (Gallo Images)

Sisanda Magala bowled a brilliant super over that cost only three runs (plus two byes run to the wicketkeeper) to earn
the Imperial Lions a three-run victory over the Northern Cape Heat in the CSA
Provincial T20 Knock Out Competition.

The Lions lived on the brink of elimination
after losing to Western Province by two runs in their opening match and then
had their last pair scampering a single to earn the Super Over play-off.

And, even then, they only managed 8 runs
for the loss of 2 wickets, leaving the home side to make 9 for victory.

But Magala prevailed, and they remain in
contention for one of the two knock-out round places from Pool A along with Six
Gun Grill WP and Six Gun Grill SWD. For the Heat, it is the end of the road as
far as qualification goes.

However, they have produced a fast bowler
of note in Johan van Dyk who will make an impact on the South African
first-class season.

The Heat followed the trend of the second
day used pitch by opting to bat first when they won the toss and managed to
post a reasonably competitive 157/7 from their 20 overs.

This was due primarily to the contribution
of opening batter Ernest Kemm (83 not out off 55 balls, 15 fours). The
left-hander underlined what has been the most significant fact of all the
winning performances thus far: the need for at least one of the top three to
bat deep into the innings.

Kemm is not the biggest of hitters, but he
showed there are other ways to score quickly as he found the gaps in the field
with good placement of his strokes and sharp running between the wickets. He
contributed almost 53 percent of the Heat total.

He and Jonathan Vandiar put on 48 without
being parted during the power play, which set the tone for the rest of the
innings, although few of his partners got into double figures.

The Lions attack is still some way off its
best, but they nevertheless produced another four-wicket haul by Ruan Haasbroek
(4/28 in 4).

Van Dyk once again impressed with the new
ball when the Lions started their innings, dismissing both opening batsmen, the
dangerous Ryan Rickelton. His three-over spell in the power play earned him
2/10 in 3 overs, with 5 of the runs coming in wides.

The power play ended on 29/2 and, after 10
overs the Lions were struggling on 58/3, needing precisely 100 for victory from
the remaining 10 overs. However, they found the man for the moment in Mitchell
van Buuren (61 off 31 balls, 7 fours and 3 sixes). When he was dismissed, the
target was down to 19 in the last two overs, and Sisanda Magala got them most
of the way with 8 runs needed off the last over.

In the end, the Lions needed 2 off the
final ball with their last two batsmen at the crease, and they scampered a
single to force the super over.

The Heat was left to rue the four dropped
catches plus a run-out opportunity off the final ball. Van Dyk finished with an
impressive 3/16 in 4 overs.