Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
Kagiso Rabada continued to light up the Indian Premier League (IPL) after week three of action concluded with yet another win for his Delhi Capitals team in Sharjah on Friday.
The Proteas paceman took his tally of wickets to 15 in the competition – which is being played in the United Arab Emirates in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak – with three for 35 in a 46-run win over Rajasthan Royals.
Rabada is the runaway Purple Cap holder with his wickets coming from just six games at a remarkable strike-rate of less than 10 and an average of 12.33. The next closest behind him is India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah with 11 wickets.
Apart from his three-for on Friday, over the past week he also claimed four for 24 in a 59-run triumph over Royal Challengers Bangalore and one for 51 in an 18-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
Oddly enough, however, Rabada is yet to claim a Player of the Match prize so far.
Fellow countryman Anrich Nortje has also become a formidable member of Delhi’s attack this season and playing in the same three games, he claimed three for 33, two for 22 and one for 25 for a total of eight wickets in the IPL thus far.
South Africa’s limit-overs captain Quinton de Kock enjoyed a far more productive week after hitting scores of 67 and 23 in back-to-back wins for Mumbai Indians.
His performances in the last two games for the reigning champions have quickly put aside his slow start to the tournament, with his team now up to second behind Delhi.
Elsewhere, veteran Faf du Plessis continued to impress with the bat for his side.
The former remains second amongst the leading run-scorers with 299 runs in six innings, although his team Chennai Super Kings are only third from bottom on the overall standings.
Du Plessis delivered one of his best performances and was arguably part of one of the best opening stands in the competition’s history when he shared in a 181-run opening partnership with Shane Watson against Punjab last Sunday.
The Australian all-rounder hit an unbeaten 83 and Du Plessis 87 off 53 balls in a 10-wicket win. The former Proteas skipper hit 17 in his other outing over the past week, a 10-run loss to KKR.
Finally, RCB superstar AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 12 and then nine in his two visits to the middle, one ending in victory and the other in defeat.
The full list of South Africans at IPL 2020 are: Faf du Plessis, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir (all Chennai Super Kings), AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Chris Morris (all Royal Challengers Bangalore), Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje (both Delhi Capitals), David Miller (Rajasthan Royals), Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians), Hardus Viljoen (Kings XI Punjab).
