Ken Borland

Pakistan pace bowler Sohail Tanveer has joined the bizhub Highveld Lions squad and, with Dirk Nannes rapidly regaining full fitness as well, Dave Nosworthy’s team can now boast two of the leading bowlers in worldwide T20 cricket.

The Lions were the early frontrunners in the MiWay T20 Challenge, winning their first three matches, before coming unstuck last weekend against the Chevrolet Knights in Bloemfontein. They are currently five points behind the log-leading central franchise, but have two games in hand.

The Knights have the weekend off, while the Lions play the Nashua Titans at SuperSport Park on Friday night and the Sunfoil Dolphins in Durban on Sunday, so Nosworthy and his team are chasing top place on the log again.

“This coming weekend is a big one for the Lions as we come up against a strong Titans team on Friday night, followed by an equally well-performing Dolphins team on Sunday. Having played four matches and managing to get across the line on three occasions has been a good start for us, however, it is never about the way one starts but about how one finishes. Team-wise, the group is very excited for this weekend as we look forward to performing at our best,” head coach Nosworthy said.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/domestic-t20/news/120302/Tanvir_Nannes_ready_to_join_action

And Nosworthy could let loose his two big overseas guns to further boost the attacking edge of the Lions attack.

Tanveer, who has been playing in the Bangladesh T20 league, flew into Johannesburg on Thursday evening and will probably be kept in cotton wool until the Lions arrive in Durban. The 27-year-old left-armer has taken 75 wickets in his 73 T20 games and has an economy rate of 7.14, so he is a fine bowler in this format, as well as a useful batsman in the lower-order. The fact that he has also played for the Rajasthan Royals and South Australia shows that he is in demand.

Nannes, meanwhile, has been in the country for 10 days, and the chances are greater that Nosworthy will be welcoming the Australian into the starting line-up against the Titans on Friday night.

“We didn’t want to risk Dirk earlier because he had a bit of a side strain,” Nosworthy explained to SuperSport.com.

Also a left-armer, Nannes has taken 28 wickets in 17 T20 internationals, and overall has taken 169 wickets in 135 matches at an economy rate of 7.14 in the shortest format of the game, having played for eight different franchises.

The one definite change to the team will come at the top of the order, where captain Alviro Petersen has left to join the national team in New Zealand. Thami Tsolekile will take over the captaincy, while the experienced Gulam Bodi is the most obvious candidate to open the batting instead of Petersen, although the Lions may yet spring a surprise there, the coach hinted.

“Gulam is an option, but so are Temba Bavuma and Neil McKenzie. We don’t want to be one-minded in our plans, we want to play differently as much as possible. The good thing is we can change the batting order and the bowling options around as well,” Nosworthy said.

Lions squad – Thami Tsolekile, Temba Bavuma, Shane Burger, Gulam Bodi, Quinton De Kock, Eddie Leie, Neil McKenzie, Chris Morris, Dirk Nannes, Ethan O’Reilly, Aaron Phangiso, Dwaine Pretorius, Jean Symes, Sohail Tanveer, Jonathan Vandiar.

Richard Levi hit the ball far and wide as his world record century raced South Africa to victory by eight wickets with four overs to spare in the second T20 international against New Zealand on Sunday.

Levi’s unbelievable 117 not out saw South Africa cruise to their target of 174 in 16 overs as the muscular Capetonian’s journey to international fame took him just 51 balls and included five fours and 13 sixes.

It was not only the first century for South Africa in T20 internationals, but the quickest century in this format of the game and the most sixes in an innings. Levi reached his hundred off just 45 balls, shattering the record of 50 balls set previously by Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, and he stole another record from the legendary West Indian with his 13 sixes bettering the left-hander’s previous mark of 10.

Levi’s sheer strength and ability to hit the ball back over long-on was an absolute nightmare for the Kiwis and he would have given some Major League baseballers a run for their money with his amazing flat-bat bashes down the ground.

The short but stocky Levi ensured all the attention was on him, brushing aside the early loss of Hashim Amla for two and Wayne Parnell (mysteriously sent up the order) for four.

Amla is under pressure to be in the team for the World T20 later this year and he tried to drive his third ball over the top of the infield. But Nathan McCullum is a skilful off-spinner and he had held the delivery back, Amla going too early on the shot and skewing the ball high to a back-pedalling James Franklin at mid-off.

Parnell is a strange choice of pinch-hitter when someone like Albie Morkel is in the team and the experiment was over after just six balls as he lost his balance trying to swipe part-time spinner Rob Nicol over the leg-side and was neatly stumped by Brendon McCullum.

But South Africa were already 41 for two in the fifth over, with Levi on 29, and the Wynberg Boys High product then simply overwhelmed the New Zealand attack.

It would be diplomatic to say Levi favours the leg-side, but it was the sensible option on Sunday as Seddon Park is a small ground and the bowlers rather stupidly either bowled short or length to him.

AB de Villiers operated as the junior partner as he cruised to 39 not out off 36 balls in an unbroken South African record third-wicket stand of 133. The captain looked in good touch as he collected four fours.

Spinners Nathan McCullum (2-0-18-1) and Roneel Hira (4-0-34-0) were the only New Zealand bowlers who could consider themselves relatively unscathed, but Kiwi supporters will be wondering why James Franklin only bowled a single over that cost seven runs. The left-armer, bowling over the wicket and angling the ball away from Levi, was the only bowler who kept him quiet.

Pace bowlers Doug Bracewell (2-0-37-0), Kyle Mills (2-0-26-0) and Tim Southee (4-0-40-0) will be less chirpy than they were in the first T20 international after being bludgeoned all over Seddon Park on Sunday.

SOLID, BUT UNSPECTACULAR

New Zealand had batted solidly but unspectacularly as they amassed a so-so 173 for four in their 20 overs.

England’s Women scored 166 for seven on the same ground just a few hours earlier and the small boundaries and quick outfield at the rural ground gave South Africa’s batsmen plenty of hope.

South Africa’s attack was fiery but lacked a bit of accuracy in terms of line, too many balls sliding down the leg side.

Martin Guptill once again raced New Zealand, who had been sent in to bat, to a good start, scoring 47 off just 35 balls before trying to duck and hook at the same time and top-edging fast bowler Marchant de Lange to fine leg.

De Lange’s extra pace had earlier helped dismiss fellow opener Rob Nicol for 23, but it was the brilliant work of AB de Villiers that drew the most applause, after the South African captain had gathered the ball from an attempted pull shot that came off the body and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.

The New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum, dominated the third quarter of the innings with his 35 off 31 balls, before the wiles of the off-spinner Johan Botha, the best of the South African bowlers with 1-22 in four overs, dismissed him, Justin Ontong taking a good catch running in from the cow-corner boundary.

James Franklin is one of those guys South African cricket fans don’t rate highly enough, but the left-hander showed his ability on Sunday as he ignited the final quarter of the innings with four sixes off five balls. Marchant de Lange and JP Duminy were the bowlers to suffer as Franklin lashed 28 off 10 balls.

But Morne Morkel then had Franklin caught behind with a hard-to-hit blockhole ball in the 18th over and New Zealand will be disappointed they could score just 12 runs off the last two overs.

Wayne Parnell and De Lange showed that they are certainly fighters as they put tough times earlier in the innings behind them to bowl excellent closing overs.

Kane Williamson finished with 28 not out off 20 balls and South Africa’s top-order needed to bat well.

Levi instead batted brilliantly to make it a no-contest.

Richard Levi smashed the most sixes and the quickest century ever as he raced South Africa to victory by eight wickets to level the series in the second T20 international against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

16th over – AB de Villiers seals the victory as he clears the front leg and launches Tim Southee for a one-bounce four over mid-on.

15th over – Levi goes down on one knee and smears Roneel Hira through midwicket for four, before ending the over by coming down the pitch and stroking the left-arm spinner over long-on and out the ground for his 13th six!

14th over – Levi breaks the world record for the fastest T20 century by steering his 45th delivery backward of point for a single off his wannabe nemesis Southee. The 24-year-old Cobras batsman has shattered the previous world record of 50 balls held by Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum. It is also South Africa’s first T20 international century! De Villiers clips a full ball on his pads backward of square where Doug Bracewell, having made a great diving save off the previous ball, can’t stop the boundary.

12th over – Levi breaks the world record for sixes in a T20 innings with three in the unfortunate Doug Bracewell’s over. Levi equals Chris Gayle’s record of 10 by bashing the ball straight down the ground into the sightscreen. The next ball is short and pulled over square-leg for a record-breaking 11th six and Levi ends the over with his 12th maximum, hammering a full ball outside off stump over wide long-off.

11th over – Levi equals Loots Bosman’s South African record of nine sixes in a T20 innings as he drives Hira just over a leaping James Franklin at long-off. Franklin perhaps should have been bowling the over as his left-arm seam from around the wicket and across Levi conceded just seven runs in the ninth over!

10th over – Too wide from Kyle Mills and De Villiers slashes the ball over point for four, bringing up the fifty partnership off just 29 balls. The first ball of the over to Levi brings another amazing six, flat-batted from outside off stump, straight over the bowler’s head! The next ball is full outside off and Levi lashes it through the covers for four.

8th over – Too short from Mills and Levi heaves it off the bottom of the bat, but over midwicket for six more!

7th over – Left-arm spinner Hira’s first ball is over-pitched and Levi drives it back over the bowler’s head and over the New Zealand team dugout for another six.

6th over – Take that Southee! The lippy fast bowler tries to bounce Levi, but he pulls powerfully, flat and magnificently for a six well in front of square!

5th over – WICKET – Part-time spinner Rob Nicol comes on and removes Wayne Parnell for four with his second ball. Parnell stepped out of his crease to swipe at a shortish delivery, is off-balance, misses and is stumped after sharp work by Brendon McCullum. Levi ends the over by launching a drive beautifully straight back over the bowler’s head for six.

4th over – Southee comes on and Levi bashes his first ball through mid-on for four.

3rd over – WICKET – Hashim Amla is out for two as he tries to drive Nathan McCullum over the top, but he’s too early on the shot and he skews the ball high to a back-pedalling James Franklin at mid-off. Wayne Parnell ends the over by driving the off-spinner sweetly, inside-out, over extra cover for four.

2nd over – Pace from the other end via Bracewell but he bowls three balls down leg – the first is flicked nonchalantly for six by Levi, who then pulls and flicks to fine leg as well for two fours.

1st over – Off-spinner Nathan McCullum again opens the bowling for New Zealand and Levi top-edges a sweep over fine leg for six.

South Africa had a sporting chance as they restricted New Zealand to 173 for four in the second T20 international at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

20th over – Marchant de Lange follows up Wayne Parnell’s excellent penultimate over with a fine one of his own. The only blemish though is the fifth ball, which is too short and Kane Williamson slogs it over midwicket for six.

18th over – Williamson now gets in on the act as he smears the first ball of Morne Morkel’s over for six over square-leg and then steps outside off stump and paddles the fast bowler past fine-leg for four. WICKET – But Morkel strikes back with a delivery in the blockhole outside off stump, which the left-handed Franklin tries to steer to third man, but he edges it behind to AB de Villiers. Franklin’s 28 off 10 balls was a terrific boost for New Zealand though.

17th over – Four sixes off five balls by Franklin as he launches JP Duminy straight back over his head for six and then heaves a massive blow over midwicket and out the ground!

16th over – Franklin drives De Lange off the back foot, straight back over his head for six. The next ball is short and Franklin steps away and cuts it over backward point for another six!

15th over – Johan Botha is bowling around the wicket and Brendon McCullum comes down the pitch and punches the off-spinner with great power through a diving Duminy at long-on for four. WICKET – But Botha strikes back next ball. McCullum is down the pitch again, but Botha drags the ball back and the batsman slaps it to cow corner, where Justin Ontong takes a good catch running in. McCullum was looking dangerous on 35 off 31 balls.

14th over – Morne Morkel deceives McCullum with two slower balls, but the New Zealand captain responds with a phenomenal shot, walking down the pitch and flicking the fast bowler over long-on for six!

12th over – De Lange returns and just misses the yorker with his first ball, McCullum clipping the low full toss through midwicket for four. De Lange’s second ball is wide down leg, as is his fifth ball. WICKET – But his next ball forces the duck-hook from Guptill, skying a top-edge to Albie Morkel at fine-leg. Guptill falls just short of an eighth successive half-century, out for another impressive 47 off 35 balls, with seven fours and a six.

11th over – A good over by Duminy is ruined by a full toss off the last ball, which Guptill drives wide of long-on, Botha doesn’t pick it up and it goes for four.

10th over – Good shot by Guptill as he short-arm jabs Morne Morkel over midwicket for four.

9th over – A tidy over from Botha forces the big shot by Guptill. The off-spinner fires in a quicker ball, but it disappears even quicker over wide long-on as Guptill uses his powerful golf swing to good effect, collecting his first six.

8th over – Wayne Parnell is introduced but his first ball is on the pads and clipped neatly away for four by Guptill. Parnell’s last two balls of the over are also down leg and flicked away for boundaries by McCullum.

6th over – Guptill slashes Lonwabo Tsotsobe over extra cover for four.

5th over – De Lange bowls his first over in T20 internationals and his extra pace has a hand in the first wicket. WICKET – Rob Nicol advances down the pitch and tries to pull, but is beaten by the pace and the ball comes off his body and rolls just behind the stumps. Guptill calls Nicol through for an ill-judged quick single because the batsman is worried about the ball rolling back on to his stumps. Wicketkeeper De Villiers is up in a flash and scores a brilliant direct hit at the bowler’s end! Nicol is run out for 23 off 17 balls. De Lange’s next ball is also shortish on leg-stump and Guptill glances it away for four.

4th over – Successive boundaries now for Guptill as he stands tall and bashes Tsotsobe with immense power through mid-off for four and then whips the left-arm seamer off the bottom edge of the bat, through backward square-leg for four more.

3rd over – There seems to be pace and bounce in this pitch and Morkel is brought on. But Nicol is immediately on the charge and slogs his first ball over cow corner for six! Two balls later, Morkel slides on to the pads and is flicked away for four past short fine leg.

2nd over – Rob Nicol hops down the pitch to a full and wide delivery outside off stump from Tsotsobe and slams it just over mid-off for four.

1st over – Off-spinner Botha opens the bowling and Nicol is down the pitch to his fourth ball, lofting it wide of mid-on for four.