Malan, De Swardt leave Lions’ hopes in balance

DP World Lions will need 182 against Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons to keep their CSA T20 Challenge dream alive at the Wanderers.

Janneman Malan’s 56 off 43 balls and the electric Ruan de Swardt (45 off 20) helped the visitors recover to 181-6 as they look to finish their campaign on a high in Johannesburg.

The threadbare Lions came into the clash with the slimmest chance of retaining their 2024 title, needing to win their remaining three while hoping other results go their way to reach the play-offs.

Captain Mitchell van Buuren set about that steep task by opting to bowl first on a humid afternoon at the Bullring, as opposite number Wihan Lubbe called wrong at the toss.

Ludwich Schuld has been the bright young thing at the top of the Dragons’ order, in an otherwise underwhelming campaign.

And the opener set out to finish his impressive personal competition in style, unleashing a flurry of early boundaries to unsettle opening Lions pacers Siya Plaatjie and Beyers Swanepoel.

But he had to walk off with a score of 21 off 14 balls when he swatted Evan Jones skywards and into the safe hands of Swanepoel.

Reynard van Tonder drove well for four then clubbed to square leg for six, before insult and injury combined when he was bowled off a Swanepoel delivery that hit him flush in the stomach.

The Dragons regrouped to reach 41-2 at the end of the six-over powerplay, before the home side immediately introduced 18-year-old offspinner Morteza Manack, fresh from writing a Matric exam earlier in the day.

He combined well with Rafeeq Patel at the other end to strangle the visitors, the latter coaxing Lubbe into a heave into the deep that was safely gathered by Richard Seletswane.

18 overs done, 2 left.

🐉Dragons are now 150/5, as we search to break this partnership at the end here.#DPWorldLionsCricket#LegacyOfChampions#DPWorldLions25#ThePrideOfJozi#T20Challenge — DP World Lions (@DPWorldLions) November 19, 2025

The squeeze was on as Plaatjie returned to good effect, at least until he was whipped over the bleachers and out of the ground by Diego Rosier to leave the Dragons 66-3 at the halfway mark.

It was a boundary that provoked Malan into life as well, as he tucked into the next Reeza Hendricks over to the tune of 18 runs.

Plaatjie had his revenge, though, when he had the dangerous Rosier caught at long leg by Patel off a massive toe-ender as he tried to find the benches again.

The 100 came up in dubious fashion in the 14th over, as a Malan edge was fumbled on to the boundary sponge at third by the sprawling Jones.

Malan was clicking into gear, though, not least with a tracer bullet of a cover drive for six.

But Lesiba Ngoepe couldn’t match him, picking out Connor Esterhuizen at deep point to give Patel his second scalp.

Poor young Manack was denied his first senior wicket when Ruan de Swardt skied one between Rassie van der Dussen and Swanepoel, with the latter charging across to inadvertently put off the former as the ball plugged in the outfield unhindered.

Malan reached his 50 off 36 balls when he clubbed a Jones full toss into the stands, setting the men in maroon up for a tilt at a decent score.

De Swardt joined the late party, too, ramping a Swanepoel (1-55) no ball for four before cutting the free hit away for another and smoking the next for a huge maximum over midwicket.

Esterhuizen tumbled forward well at deep extra to catch Malan as Jones (2-25) restored order at the death, but those in gold have work to do if they are to keep their competition going into the weekend.

DP World Lions:: Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Richard Seletswane, Connor Esterhuizen, Mitchell van Buuren (capt), Evan Jones, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Beyers Swanepoel, Morteza Manack, Siya Plaatjie, Rafeeq Patel.

Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons: Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Richard Seletswane, Connor Esterhuizen, Mitchell van Buuren (capt), Evan Jones, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Beyers Swanepoel, Morteza Manack, Siya Plaatjie, Rafeeq Patel.