The Lions have managed to keep the CSA 4-Day Series trophy at the Wanderers for the second consecutive season, even if it is only half of it, following a dramatic drawn in the final against the Titans at the Bullring on Monday.
Having failed to take the remaining seven wickets to win the match on the last day, the Lions have to share the trophy with the Titans, courtesy of brilliant, fighting knocks from centurion Lhuan-dre Pretorius and half-centuries from Rivaldo Moonsamy and Keegan Petersen.
The Lions were brilliant throughout the competition, going through the seven-match round robin stage unbeaten with three victories, three draws and one no-result. The latter part of their competition was heavily impacted by inclement weather, as all their draws came during that time.
In the bowling department, fast bowlers Lutho Sipamla, Codi Yusuf and Tshepo Moreki led from the front and feature in the tournament's Top 5 leading wicket-takers. Sipamla and Yusuf finished with 23 wickets each, while Moreki claimed 21 sticks this season.
In the batting front, Zubayr Hamza was outstanding, as he finished fifth in the tournament's leading run scorers with over 500 runs.
Zubayr Hamza brings up his 36th half-century in his 100th first-class match.👏
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) April 12, 2025
Excellent stuff!!😃🏏#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi#SpiritOfChampions #4DaySeriesFinal#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/RiSlBoUaV1
The 29-year-old scored five 50s, to go with his solitary century this season, one that came in the all-important final. Captain Dominick Hendricks also had a fruitful campaign as he accumulated over 400 runs and scored one century and two 50.
However, if there is one player that has exceeded expectations this season in the Lions side, it has to be Bjorn Fortuin.
A superb display of bowling from Bjorn Fortuin, wrapping up the season with a brilliant 5-wicket haul in the #4DaySeries Final! 🔥🏆
— CSA Domestic Leagues (@DomesticCSA) April 14, 2025
Top effort, Bjorn – well bowled! 👏💪🏏 #WozaNawe #BePartOfIt #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/cBkQXHusJ9
As one of the household names in the country, many would not even associate Fortuin with red ball cricket, purely because he has excelled in limited over tournaments, such as the SA20 and also in the Proteas white ball teams. However, the 30-year-old was impressive in his all-whites and has perhaps gone under the radar because of the 4-Day competition reach.
This season in the first-class tournament, Fortuin took 19 wickets in six games, as he stepped up for the Lions in tough conditions. He finished the season with a bowling average of 26.73 and took two five-wicket hauls, with one of them coming in the final.
With the bat, Fortuin was even more impressive, as he finished the season with over 390 runs, which included two centuries and two half-centuries. The 30-year-old's returns with the bat are even more impressive considering that he bats at No 8 for the Joburgers.
With South Africa set to tour India later this year, Fortuin has made a case for his maiden Test call-up despite CSA's vivid investment in Senuran Muthusamy, who plays a similar role.