In a thrilling CSA 4-Day Series final at DP World Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, it was the #PrideOfJozi that stayed calm, fought with tremendous tenacity and emerged victorious with a 99-run win over Western Province.<\/p>\n
The epic final swung in favour of one side and then the other, the DP World Lions men\u2019s team managing to bowl World Sports Betting Western Province out for 208 on the final day, with left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin taking five for 69 in 26 overs.<\/p>\n
It was the most remarkable of turnarounds, considering the Lions were 35 for five after losing an important toss and having to bat first, under floodlights, on the first morning. Trailing by 87 runs on first innings, they were then 113 for six in their second innings before improbably making it to 394.<\/p>\n
The hero with the bat in both DP World Lions innings was all-rounder Delano Potgieter, who scored 81 on the first day and a magnificent 155 not out in the second innings, one of the great performances in domestic finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really proud of the whole squad,\u201d triumphant coach Russell Domingo said. \u201cIt was a real squad effort because a guy like Mitchell van Buuren didn\u2019t play in the final but was one of our leading run-scorers, Duanne Olivier one of our leading wicket-takers and Wandile Makwetu also made a big contribution. The guys fought extra hard in this final for those who weren\u2019t playing, they dug really deep and I am so proud of them. We showed really good character, we had to be tough mentally, stick to our game-plans and fight hard. We had to stay calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be a game we will think about in 20 years time and it\u2019s one of the best wins I\u2019ve experienced. I\u2019ve been involved in some amazing wins \u2013 Bangladesh in New Zealand, the Proteas in Australia \u2013 and this is right up there,\u201d the well-travelled Domingo said.<\/p>\n
The DP World Lions head coach had special praise for Player of the Match Potgieter. With Wiaan Mulder not being selected for the Proteas as much as he would have liked or the Lions expected, Potgieter\u2019s appearances have been limited.<\/p>\n
But coming in at the crucial back end of the campaign, the 27-year-old has made vital contributions in the four matches he has played, scoring 290 runs at an average of 96.66 and taking 11 wickets at 29.45.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelano was magnificent. He only played a few games but he did really well last week in Centurion and he brought that confidence here. He only came in because Wiaan couldn\u2019t bowl and we needed that fourth seamer. And then he plays one of the best final innings you\u2019ll ever see,\u201d Domingo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a dream come true,\u201d a beaming Potgieter said. \u201cTo have my career-best at the DP World Wanderers, in a final, is next level. I feel amazing and I can\u2019t really explain how it happened. I\u2019m just so happy for the team and for myself. It\u2019s been a hard season for me because I have not played much, but Hashim Amla [batting coach] said if I keep working hard then the rewards will come. And the final brought exactly that. But it\u2019s amazing, what a time to do it when conditions were obviously not easy. But big credit to Wiaan, Codi Yusuf, Temba Bavuma, Bjorn and Malusi Siboto for batting with me so well. The lower-order, with Tshepo Moreki also scoring a fifty as nightwatchman, played an incredible role and I could not be more proud of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a great win, unbelievable really and I could not be more happy to win a trophy in my first season back with the DP World Lions, and it\u2019s the hardest trophy to win,\u201d Potgieter said.<\/p>\n