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OUT THE BLOCKS: The hottest stars from the opening week of the SA20

Ryan Rickleton, Rassie van der Dussen, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phelukwayo and more SA20 stars whose performances have stood out in the opening week.

Rassie van der Dussen of MI Cape Town
Image: Gianluigi Geurcia

Ryan Rickleton, Rassie van der Dussen, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phelukwayo and more SA20 stars whose performances have stood out in the opening week.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Red-hot Ryan

In the opening exchanges of the 2024 SA20, Ryan Rickleton stood out as the form player.

Rickelton has notched back-to-back fifties to start the campaign for MI Cape Town and delighted crowds with his belligerent style.

The left-hander also stands out as a possible successor to Quinton de Kock in the national team.

Rickelton has struck two of the three highest scores in the tournament to date and tops the runscorers so far.

He fell just short of a hundred as MI Cape Town bounced back from a DLS loss to Durban’s Super Giant where they might have felt they shaded the balance of play. His 98 was as much a joy to watch as the 87 he hit in the opening match.

Rickleton has everyone’s attention right now and has put his hand up for T20 World Cup consideration.

Other batters making waves

He isn’t the only standout at MI Cape Town, though, as his 98 came in a great partnership with Rassie van der Dussen as the Proteas man put his T20 doubters to shame with a rapid knock that secured him the first hundred of the 2024 SA20.

Van der Dussen’s 104 is the top score in the tournament, with every team having played twice, and could finish as one of the most memorable knocks of the SA20.

At the undefeated Durban’s Super Giant, Heinrich Klaasen played a real boot-straps knock to ensure his team won their opening game as the Kingsmead faithful braved an afternoon storm to witness the brilliant knock.

While he hasn’t been able to turn his runs into a victory for Pretoria Capitals, the good form of Rilee Rossouw must be noted as well.

Bowlers on fire

The Paarl Royals have some of the hottest bowlers in this summer’s sizzling SA20, led by Proteas star Lungi Ngidi.

Ngidi was the undoing of the Pretoria Capitals at his franchise home ground of SuperSport Park, using the pace and bounce of the wicket to his great advantage where others proved little more than cannon fodder.

Back at home, the Royals found Andile Phehlukwayo ready to put his golden arm to good use. On top of a handy cameo with the bat, Phehlukwayo nabbed innings-turning wickets to help the Royals to victory in their opening match.

Tabraiz Shamsi doesn’t quite have the numbers he deserves in the SA20 so far, but he will be expected also to be a huge player for the Royals.

DSG allrounder Dwaine Pretorius continues to be an underrated performer with the ball in this format.

Kagiso Rabada has shown glimpses of the kind of bowling form that could light up this tournament.

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