Hollywoodbets KZN Inland cruise into Africa T20 Cup final:
A dominant Africa T20 Cup semi-final performance from Hollywoodbets KZN Inland saw them dispatch Gauteng by eight wickets to book their spot in the competition final for second time in three years.
A third Africa T20 Cup half century in an many innings in 2017 from opening batsman Sarel Erwee (67*), as well as an impressive spell from spinner Nduduzo Mfoza (3/23), saw KZN Inland past what was a strong Johannesburg-based side.
With his undefeated half century Erwee went to the top of the Africa T20 Cup’s all-time run scorers list overtaking fellow Hollywoodbets Dolphins star Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland were meticulous in their areas after they won a vital toss and sent Gauteng in to bat on a sticky wicket at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley, and they restricted the Highveld outfit to 110/8 in their 20 overs.
It was a bright start from the men from the City of Choice as the opening bowling pair of Gareth Dukes and Kurwin Mungroo both picked up wickets in their first overs which left the Johannesburg-based side 23/2 after six overs.
The middle overs also proved to be industrious for the Inland boys who continued to stifle any attempts by Gauteng to break the shackles as wickets fell fairly regularly throughout.
There was a slight partnership of 45 for Gauteng between Yaseer Cook and Shaylen Pillay that took their side to 46/2 after 10 overs. Attie Maposa then accounted for Cook as the Gauteng side battled to gain any sort of momentum after the halfway stage.
Another tough period for Gauteng saw them labour their way to 70/4 from 15 overs with left-arm spinner Nduduzo Mfoza accounting for three of the Gauteng batsmen finishing with 3/23 in his four overs.
Aaron Phangiso provided the team in gold with a measure of momentum as he struck 20 from 10 deliveries at the end of the Gauteng innings pushing them to a modest 110/8.
In reply Hollywoodbets KZN Inland got off to a positive start, with the tournaments leading run scorer Sarel Erwee taking the attack to the Gauteng bowlers guiding his team to 40/1 in the opening six overs of their chase.
The wicket that was lost was that of captain Lefa Mosena, who was stumped for 7 off the bowling of off-spinner Ndumiso Mvelase.
Grant Roelofesen provided a great foil for Erwee as he crafted a solid 20 from 17 balls before he chopped on a Phangiso delivery with Inland needing 32 to win from nine overs.
Kyle Nipper (15*) joined Erwee at the middle and the latter continued on his way past 50 at much better than a run-a-ball. Nipper was his industrious self as he worked the ball around providing the support to a dominant Erwee.
The KZN Inland stalwarts chipped away at the final two dozen runs, and guided their side home to an eight wicket victory with 32 balls to spare.
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland will play with winner of the second semi-final between Namibia and Free State in the 2017 Africa T20 Cup final at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley at 10am on Monday, 25 September.
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