Johannesburg – Lifting the Ram Slam T20 Challenge trophy could begin a period of dominance in franchise cricket for the Highveld Lions, according to rookie coach Geoffrey Toyana and veteran skipper Alviro Petersen.
The Lions beat the Titans by 30 runs in the T20 final at the Wanderers on Sunday to complete a superb season, after they shared the Momentum One-Day Cup crown with the Cape Cobras and finished second in the Sunfoil Series first-class competition.
“Our vision is to be the best team in franchise cricket for the next couple of seasons,” said Toyana, who took charge of a franchise team for the first time in this campaign.
“Now that we have set the bar and we need to be consistent.
“The last couple of years, we've played in finals but taken a step backwards in them.
“This time we wanted to step forward. For once we arrived in the final and hopefully the floodgates will now open.”
Petersen also believed the future was bright for the resurgent outfit.
“We want to be the best franchise in South Africa and today was a big step towards that,” the skipper said after lifting a trophy with the Lions for the first time.
The Lions bowlers once again led the way, with Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir, Hardus Viljoen, Chris Morris and Sohail Tanvir taking two wickets each to bowl the Titans out and comfortably defend an average total.
“I was a bit worried because we felt 155 was only par, but our bowlers did very, very well. They were superb,” Toyana said.
Quinton de Kock, who broke the record for the most number of runs in a T20 season with 524, struck a dazzling 44 off 31 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, to give the Lions' innings a great start after they won the toss and chose to bat.
He could possibly have gone on to a more substantial innings but was caught off a full toss from part-time off-spinner Henry Davids. Toyana was nevertheless full of praise for the young prodigy.
“I've known Quinton since he was 14. I've worked with him at the SA Under-19s, and he has big years still to come,” Toyana said.
Toyana admitted he had not banked on so much success in his debut season.
“I'm really proud of the boys and the big thing is that they bought into my coaching style.
“To be honest, I never thought my first season would go so well. I knew we had talent in the set-up and experienced players, but it was only in the back of my mind that we might do anything special.
“But the senior players played a superb role and I take my hat off to them.” – Sapa