Paarl Royals quick Ottneil Baartman claimed a sensational hat-trick at Centurion on Thursday evening to send a chilling reminder to the Proteas selectors what they will be missing at next month’s ICC T20 World Cup.
Baartman was in excellent form, dismissing Pretoria Capitals batters’ Andre Russell, Lizaad Williams and Lungi Ngidi with successive deliveries in the 19th over enroute to the brilliant figures of 5/16 from five overs.
The Proteas seamer has been on the threshold of a hat-trick earlier in the innings too when he clean bowled Connor Esterhuizen and trapped Jordon Cox in the fourth over.
It was Baartman’s second T20 five-wicket haul of his career as the Royals skittled Capitals for 127.
The 32-year-old also leapfrogged his former Sunrisers Eastern Cape teammate Marco Jansen (52 wickets) as the leading wicket-taker in Betway SA20 history with 57 scalps.
He is also the top wicket-taker in Season 4 with 16 scalps at an average of 9.40.
Baartman enjoyed an excellent maiden T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies two years ago, but has been deemed surplus to requirements for the next edition in India and Sri Lanka next month.
The right-arm seamer will have further opportunities to extend his lead at the top when the Royals face struggling Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead on Saturday and Joburg Super Kings at Boland Park on Monday.
He will be hoping that his performance at Centurion has also done enough to esure the Royals’ passage to the SA20 playoffs next week.
