Bjorn Fortuin, the DP World Lions captain, called correctly at the toss and elected to bat first in their CSA One-Day Cup match against the Moothee Ram Tuskers at Pietermaritzburg Oval on Wednesday morning.
The Tuskers come into the contest buoyed by their two-wicket win over perennial powerhouses, WSB Western Province at Newlands last weekend. The victory lifted the Tuskers from the bottom of the table and lifted them into fifth place. They have a single win, three losses, and one no-result in five outings.
Their captain, Wayne Parnell, played an exceptional innings to catapult Tuskers from 80/5 to 274/8. He scored an unbeaten 89 from 78 balls. Ntando Zuma also contributed an invaluable 51 from 42 balls. The hosts will be hoping the pair can show up again with the bat. They will also need their top order to be firing against a well-oiled Lions side.
The Lions, who are jostling for the top spot with the Dafabet Warriors, are one of the only two unbeaten teams in the competition. They have won three out of their five matches and have also had a no-result and an abandoned encounter. They have 18 points, and are just one point behind the Warriors, who lead the pack.
The visitors come into this match on the back of an emphatic 120-run win over the Multiply Titans at the Wanderers over the weekend. Reeza Hendricks led the charge with an unbeaten 82 from 106 balls. The Lions also welcomed Temba Bavuma back. The Proteas test captain was out for an extended period with an injury. Bavuma scored an unbeaten 45-ball 43 in his first match back.
Tuskers: Jack Lees, Jonty Rapulana, Malcolm Nofal, Cameron Shekleton (capt), Michael Erlank, Andile Mogakane, Ntando Zuma (wk), Hardus Viljoen, Bamanye Xenxe, Daryn Dupavillon, Ziyaad Abrahams.
Lions: Reeza Hendricks, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Mitch van Buuren (wk), Delano Potgieter, Richard Seletswane, Beyers Swanepoel, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Nqaba Peter.