The Durban Heat have dropped Proteas batsman and marquee player Hashim Amla for Sunday’s Mzansi Super League clash at Boland Park.
Amla has struggled throughout the MSL T20, scoring just 55 runs in five innings at an average of 11 with a top score of 24. The 35-year-old was replaced by left-hander Sarel Erwee.
The concerning aspect not only for the Heat, but also for the national team, is that Amla has been short of runs for a while now. After enduring a lean run in Sri Lanka in both the Test and ODI series, Amla’s customary consistency deserted him in the Caribbean Premier League too.
Playing for the Barbados Tridents, he only managed 72 runs in six innings at an average of 12 in the CPL.
Amla, wearing the substitutes bib in the dug-out, could only look on as Erwee (25 not out) and Morne van Wyk (26 not out) put on 56/0 in the opening Powerplay overs. It was the best start the Heat have enjoyed in the competition.
TEAMS
Paarl Rocks:
Aiden Markram, Henry Davids, Faf du Plessis (capt), Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Wiese, Mangaliso Mosehle (w/k), Bjorn Fortuin, Grant Thomson, Dane Paterson, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tshepo Moreki
Durban Heat:
Heinrich Klaasen, Morne van Wyk (w/k), David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Sarel Erwee, Albie Morkel (capt), Keshav Maharaj, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Tladi Bokako, Brandon Mavuta