PS vs HL: Highveld Lions opt to bowl against Perth Scorchers

Highveld Lions will be banking heavily on captain Alviro Petersen to take them through to the semis. 

NEW DELHI: Highveld Lions captain Alviro Petersen won the toss and chose to bowl in their Champions League T20 match against Perth Scorchers as it started to rain, due to which the start of the match was delayed at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. 


The Lions from South Africa will look to go one up from their runners-up finish during last edition of the tournament. 

Lions will be banking on captain Alviro Petersen, veteran Neil McKenzie, leggie Imran Tahir and left-arm seam duo of Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Pakistani speedster Sohail Tanvir to take them through to the semis. 

Petersen will be partnered by Gulam Bodi who has had the experience of spending time in the dug-out of IPL team Delhi Daredevils. The duo will be followed by limited overs specialist Quinton de Kock and experienced McKenzie. 

However, they will be missing the services of speedster Chris Morris, who will donning Chennai Super Kings' jersey for this tournament. 

This will be the first time that both Scorchers and Lions will be up against each other in the short history of Champions League T20. 

Scorchers had a forgettable inaugural season last year, registering just one victory, apart from being besieged by off-field problems. 

They will be banking on captain and veteran Simon Katich and limited overs specialist Adam Voges in the batting department. 

Apart from Katich, Voges and Test discard Marcus North, there are no other big names in their batting line-up. The bowling department is spin-heavy and is led by 42-year-old Brad Hogg. 

Teen sensation and left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who made a sensational 98 on debut against England at Trent Bridge two months back, left-arm orthodox Michael Beer and offie Ashton Turner form the fulcrum of Scorchers' spin department, which might come a handy in the subcontinent conditions. 

Teams: 

Lions: Alviro Petersen (Capt.), Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Hardus Viljoen, Temba Bavuma, Jean Symes, Dwaine Pretorius, Sohail Tanvir, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. 

Perth Scorchers: Simon Katich (Capt.), Liam Davis, Ashton Agar, Adam Voges, Ashton Turner, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Triffitt, Joel Paris, Jason Behrendorff, Brad Hogg, Michael Bee
r