Highveld Lions are lucky to play 3 out of 4 group games at home ground. But, they are unlucky to get tough draw. They qualified to the 2010 Champions League T20 as a losing finalist in the domestic Standard Bank Twenty20 cricket tournament. This is their first Champions League appearance. Highveld Lions will clash with Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the 2010 CL T20 cricket tournament at Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Group B teams: Highveld Lions, Mumbai Indians, Bangalore Royal Challengers, South Australian Redbacks & Guyana
Schedule of CLT20 matches: Vs Mumbai Indians (September 10), Vs South Austraia (September 12), Vs Guyana (September 19) & Vs Bangalore Royal Challengers (September 21)
CLT20 team rating: 7/10
CLT20 history: Highveld Lions never qualified to the Champions League T20.
Qualification for 2010 CLT20 tournament: Runner-up in the Standard Bank Twenty20 cricket tournament
Highveld Lions CLT20 team:
Coach:
Captain: Alvero Petersen
Batsmen: Neil McKenzie, Craig Alexander, Jonathan Vandiar & Vaughn Van Jaarsveld
All-rounders: Richard Cameron, Zander de Bruyn, Werner Coetsee, Robert Frylinck, Aaron Phangiso & Jean Symes
Wicket-keeper: Thami Tsolekile
Bowlers: Ethan O’Reilly, Shane Burger & Cliffie Deacon
Significant events: Monty Panesar is not playing in the CL T20. Andre Nel was not selected.
Highveld Lions team analysis:
Strengths:
1. Home advantage. 3 out of 4 group stages matches are at Wanderers in Johannesburg.
2. Team spirit. They may not have big stars but they surprise opponents with team spirit.
3. They have some good batsmen.
Weaknesses:
1. Strong opponents. Mumbai is strengthened by Kieron Pollard, J.P. Duminy & Dwayne Bravo while Bangalore is strengthened by Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor & Cameron White.
2. Lack of experience. Most of the cricketers never played at top level.
3. They were brutally exposed by the Warriors in the finals of the Standard Bank Twenty20.
4. Weak bowling attack – no world class bowler.
Highveld Lions Squad rating: 7/10
CLT20 Prediction for Highveld Lions: Despite home advantage, Highveld lions may struggle to reach semi-finals of the 2010 Champions League tournament. Both Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers are too strong for Lions to beat them.
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