Proteas batter Reeza Hendricks has lit up the first half of the SA20 player auction as he fetched the highest bid of R4.3-million in Cape Town.
Hendricks, the current back-to-back CSA T20 Player of the Year, was released from the Joburg Super Kings at the end of Season 2. The Super Kings had purchased the stylish right-hander for R4.5 in the inaugural auction two years ago.
Hendricks’ recent good form for the Proteas, having scored two successive T20I half-centuries against Ireland last week in Abu Dhabi, would certainly have influenced proceedings today.
MI Cape Town faced stiff competition from Pretoria Capitals as the bidding war intensified between the southern and northern teams.
Capitals, however, went over the remaining auction purse when the bidding reached R4.2 million allowing MI Cape Town to win the race to sign Hendricks. The 33-year-old will join his Lions teammates Ryan Rickleton and Rassie van der Dussen at MI Cape Town.
MI Cape Town were in a competitive mood at the Season 3 auction as they immediately purchased former Proteas batter Colin Ingram. The 38-year-old left-hander was part of the Pretoria Capitals squad the past two seasons.
The Capitals were still seeking a top-order batter to bolster their squad and came out on top in another bidding war with the Joburg Super Kings to secure left-hander Marques Ackerman for R800 000.
Back-to-back champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape were quiet in the two opening two sets at the Season 3 auction, but sprang into life once the fast bowlers went under the hammer.
English seamer Richard Gleeson,who played for Durban’s Super Giants last season, was purchased for R2.3 million, while young Okuhle Cele was picked up for R175 000.
The Joburg Super Kings, meanwhile, bolstered their all-rounder department by securing the services of Evan Jones and Wihan Lubbe for R175 000 apiece. The duo were both previously at Paarl Royals, but were released by the Boland Park team at the end of last season.
Finally, MI Cape Town would have pleased the Newlands faithful by bringing home local off-spinner Dane Piedt for R175 000.
The eXXpress Set flew by with Joburg Super Kings picking up New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell for R175 000.
Western Province left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds has moved across from JSK to the Pretoria Capitals for R175 000.
Durbans’ Super Giants may have though pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the purchase of West Indies fast bowling sensation for just R425 000.
SA20