200 up! David Wiese's most memorable T20 performances

Sussex Sharks big-hitting allrounder David Wiese played the 200th T20 of his career when the side took on Hampshire in the Vitality Blast at The 1st Central County Ground last week. He is in exclusive company, being the 85th player worldwide and just the 11th South African to reach the landmark.

To celebrate the milestone, we’ve taken a look back at The Roodepoort Levers’ most memorable T20 performances:

Titans v Warriors, Standard Bank Pro20 Series, Centurion Park, 21st February 2010

In just the fifth T20 of his career, David put in an incredible performance with the ball to help the Titans to victory. Entering the attack as third-change bowler with his side defending 182, David ripped through the Warriors batting line up taking 5 wickets for just 19 runs from his four overs – still his best figures in the 20-over format. Among his victims were white-ball heavyweights Nicky Boje and Colin Ingram (one of the other South Africans with over 200 T20s behind him). It was also David that took the catch to dismiss another international danger-man, Ashwell Prince.

Easterns v North West, CSA Provincial T20, Willowmoore Park, 1st October 2011

On T20 debut for his province (as opposed to his Titans franchise), David showed how effective he can be with the bat, as well as the ball. Coming into bat at number five, he plundered an unbeaten 71 off just 29 balls, with eight fours and four sixes. Future South African international Duane Pretorius came in for particular punishment, conceding 44 runs from his four runs, many of them at the hands of Wiese. David’s effort helped Easterns to 194 for 5, a total beyond North West who finished 26 runs short of victory, with David taking a respectable 1 for 21 from his allocation.

Titans v Sydney Sixers, Champions League semi-final, Centurion Park, 26th October 2012

On the grand stage of a Champions League semi-final, David rescued a faltering Titans innings. He came in with the scoreboard reading 82 for 5 and proceeded to smash 61 from 28 – including the fastest fifty of that year’s tournament from 25 balls – to help his side to 163 for 5 in what had been a low-scoring tournament. That proved a real challenge for the Sixers, who had gone through the group stage unbeaten, and it wasn’t until the final ball of the match and with just two wickets remaining, that they sealed their berth in the final – a match they would go on to win.

South Africa v West Indies, 3rd T20, Kingsmead, 14th January 2015

David showed he has what it takes at international level with a stunning bowling performance to give South Africa a consolation win in their three-match series against West Indies. After the home side had posted an imposing 195 for 3 batting first, the Windies would need to bat well to secure a series whitewash. After reaching 48 without loss from five overs, they had given themselves a solid foundation before the introduction of Wiese scuppered their hopes. After picking up the wickets of Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo in his first three overs, David then returned to take dismiss Darren Sammy and Carlos Braithwaite with the third and fourth balls of his final over to finish with a brilliant 5 for 23 and confirm victory for South Africa.

Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians, Indian Premier League, M Chinnaswarmy Stadium, 19th April 2015

On debut in the pressure cauldron of the IPL, David showed off his skills with both bat and ball. He was comparatively economical and took four wickets – including those of Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard – as Mumbai racked up a heft 209 for 7. David then gave his side some hope of chasing that down when he hit 47 off 25 balls from number seven against a bowling attack featuring Mitch McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Pollard. It wasn’t to be as Mumbai Indians ran out winners by 18 runs, but David had certainly announced himself to the adoring IPL supporters.

Sussex Sharks v Somerset, NatWest T20 Blast, The 1st Central County Ground, 1st June 2016

Talking of announcing yourself to spectators, David was at it again in his first ever appearance for the Sharks. A mammoth 156-run opening stand between Chris Nash & Luke Wright set the team up for an imposing total of 222 for 3 having been asked to bat first. David helped make sure Somerset got nowhere close, sending Peter Trego and James Hildreth packing on his way to four wickets in total. Tymal Mills stole the headlines for his electrifying dismissal of Chris Gayle, but Wiese had caught the attention of the Sussex management who would go on to convince the South African to join the club as a Kolpak player the following season.

Sussex Sharks v Somerset, Vitality Blast semi-final, Edgbaston, 15th September 2018

Another semi-final, another opportunity to for David to show what he can do when the stakes are high. Luke Wright was going great guns at the top of the order as the Sharks batted first in their first Blast semi since 2012, but the skipper was struggling to find sustained support at the other end. Enter Wiese who whalloped 52 from 29 balls – including one of the biggest straight sixes ever seen – and combined with Luke to add 120 for the fourth wicket in fewer than ten overs. The team made 202 for 8 from their 20 overs, a total Somerset could only get within 35 runs of as the Sharks booked their place in the final.

Catch David and the rest of the Sussex Sharks in action next Tuesday when they take on Glamorgan in the Vitality Blast. Tickets are available here.