Lions banking on Yusuf’s SA20 x-factor

• Published date: 27 April 2024
• Author: Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za
• Publication title: Independent on Saturday

The right-arm seamer had just been deposited onto the Wanderers grass embankment. It was an almighty blow that had six plastered all over it from the moment Titans left-hander Jack Lees made contact

Yusuf had missed his length altogether and was now under serious pressure for the remaining four balls of the final over.

Up to that point, the Lions had kept the Titans in check for the majority of the first innings. But Lees was threatening to switch the momentum and to possibly propel the Titans to a score they would feel confident to defend.

Yusuf, though, had seen this all before. The 26-year-old has spent the past two seasons playing in the high-pressure SA20 for the Paarl Royals, where he takes the new ball and bowls at the death.

This experience shone through during the remaining four balls as Yusuf conceded just two extras – a wide and a bye – as he adjusted both his line and length to keep Lees at bay.

It closed out an excellent final over as Yusuf finished with the brilliant figures of 2/25.

“Playing in the SA20 certainly helped in that moment, specifically that last over, because I had worked on those plans with my Royals coach (former New Zealand fast bowler) Shane Bond in hitting those wide yorkers with my field set to the off side,” Yusuf told Independent Newspapers.

“The SA20 is an unbelievable competition to be a part of. You take learnings from it every day because you feel that pressure from ball one. It helps when you come back to domestic cricket.”

Yusuf has certainly benefited from having access to coaches like Bond and Proteas legend and Lions bowling coach Allan Donald of late.

It has helped him stay ahead of the pack, despite the Lions having a plethora of seam bowling options such as Proteas Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lutho Sipamla, Tshepo Moreki and former captain Malusi Siboto at their disposal during various stages of the campaign.

Yusuf, who is the Lions’ leading seam bowler in the CSA T20 Challenge with 14 wickets at an average of 19.07, feels Donald’s presence...