Former Proteas star takes Lions to next level
Delano Potgieter has praised Hashim Amla, the Proteas legend, for helping him play a starring role in the final of the Four-Day Test series in South Africa.
When the Lions defeated Western Province by 99 runs at Wanderers Stadium, it was the start of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of domestic cricket.
Amla, who holds the record for the most points scored by a Proteas player at the cricket betting websites, became the Lions batting coach at the start of the season. Potgieter, who also coaches Amla in the MI Cape Town team during the South African Championship (SA20), was certainly impressed.
“It’s definitely a dream come true. To play the best game of my career at the Wanderers, in the final, is the next level. I feel amazing and I can’t explain how it happened. I am very happy for the team and for myself. It was a tough season for me because I didn’t play much, but Hashim Amla said that if I kept working hard, the reward would definitely come. And that’s exactly what the final brought,” – Potgieter said.
Without the Lion’s Tail, which wagged constantly in both innings, Potgieter would have been unable to achieve much of anything. Bjorn Fortin, Cody Yusuf and last man standing Malusi Siboto all made significant contributions, while cobbler Chepo Moreki celebrated half a century as night watchman in the second inning.
Russell Domingo, the Lions coach, praised the team for their heroic comeback, but couldn’t help but praise Potgieter for his fantastic individual performance.
“I’m very proud of the whole team. We showed really good character. We had to be strong mentally, stick to our game plans and fight hard. We had to stay calm,” Domingo said.
“He’s only played a few games, but he played well at Centurion last week and that gave him confidence. He only came in because Vian couldn’t bowl and we needed a fourth player. “Then he played one of the best final innings you’ve ever seen,” Domingo concluded.
