All-round Du Plooy puts Free State in semis
Leus du Plooy starred with bat and ball as the Free State Team completed a brilliant turnaround to reach the Africa T20 Cup semi-finals with a 62-run demolition of rivals Northern Cape at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Sunday.
The Bloemfontein side, who had to win the game in order to top Pool C, won in style by dismissing the hosts for just 77 in 16.4 overs after first posting 139/6.
Du Plooy was the backbone of the Free State innings with his maiden T20 50 – the youngster ending unbeaten on 50 (41 balls, 2 fours) after his side lost the toss and were sent in to bat first.
Andries Gous (25) and Raynard van Tonder (20) also got starts, enabling their side to set a competitive 140 for victory.
Werner Coetsee (2/13) and Patrick Kruger (2/22) managed two wickets apiece.
Northern Cape fell into some early trouble on seven for two after a wicket each for Corne Dry (1/7) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (1/12).
Top-scorer Keegan Petersen (26) gave them some home when he took them to 50 for two at one stage.
But Du Plooy’s outstanding spell of four for 15 ripped through the middle and lower order, giving the home side little chance.
Patrick Botha (2/22) offered good support to dismiss the Cape side with over three overs remaining.
Victory with the bonus-point ensured Free State, who lost to Kenya on the opening day of the group on Friday, ended ahead of the African side with 10 points to progress to the last four.
Latest
-
NewsSri Lanka v England Day One: Anderson and Mathews vie for control in Galle
James Anderson returned figures of three for 24.
-
NewsJames Anderson reveals nerves on Test return
The England seamer added to his 600 wickets as Sri Lanka finished day one on 229 for four in Galle.
-
NewsAlex Hales hits blistering Big Bash century
Hales has been in international exile since a second recreational drug test failure on the eve of England’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
-
NewsAngelo Mathews century repels England after James Anderson’s three-wicket burst
The 38-year-old finished with exemplary figures of three for 24 on a surface offering precious little encouragement.
-
NewsShubman Gill learned backfoot game with ‘1500 short balls every day’
Shubman Gill impressed with his technique against short-pitch bowling, and his father has said he honed those skills during practice.
-
NewsSri Lanka steady ship after James Anderson takes three wickets in Galle
The home side reached 155 for three at tea, with England’s record wicket-taker responsible for all three dismissals.
-
NewsCSA confident Australia tour will go ahead
CSA is confident the scheduled Australia tour to the country will take place despite the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in South Africa
-
NewsJames Anderson at the double on day one in Galle
Sri Lanka may have feared a repeat of their dismal 135 all out from last week.
-
NewsBen Stokes and Jofra Archer return to spearhead England’s tour of India
Jos Buttler will return home after the first Test as England seek to keep players fresh, while Ollie Pope will return when fit.
-
NewsWorld Test Championship: Which countries are in the running for Lord’s final
The ICC World Test Championship final is set to be held at Lord’s in June, completing a two-year cycle of the inaugural tournament.