Kagiso Rabada highlights explosive batsmen in Ram Slam

Fourways’ own, Kagiso Rabada (22) has led the Proteas bowling attack in recent years but he said the batting skill evident in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge was second to none, and made it tough as a bowler.

“I feel we [South Africa] have the best batsmen in the world,” said the bizhub Highveld Lions paceman. “I think Quinton [de Kock] is the best opening batter in the world. And you’ve got someone like AB [de Villiers] who has done it all. He’s been the best for years.”

Rabada added that bowling to batsmen of this calibre could “expose you”.

“But them exposing you means you must get to a new limit because you can’t stay there or they will exploit you.”

Rabada said it was not just the Proteas batsmen playing in the competition who bowlers needed to watch out for.

He identified Jon-Jon Smuts and Colin Ingram as particularly dangerous. “There is [also] a whole lot of young talent coming through as well, guys like Andries Gous. There is just too much talent in the country.”

He added that after a long spell with the Proteas, he was thoroughly enjoying playing franchise cricket at the Lions, with players he started his professional cricket career with.

After losing to the Multiply Titans by eight wickets in their first game, the Lions have bounced back with successive victories against the WSB Cape Cobras and Hollywoodbets Dolphins.

The Lions will play the Cobras again on 24 November and the Warriors on 26 November, before an all-important Gauteng derby against the Titans at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on 29 November.

The Lions will play four more games in December before the knockout stage of the competition.

You can write to our sports editor by emailing nicholasz@caxton.co.za

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