It is not often that a player leaves a franchise after playing a spectacular innings in a final to spearhead his team to the title. But that’s just what Mangaliso Mosehle did at the end of last season.
Mosehle, playing out of the Titans franchise, outshone even Proteas superstar Quinton de Kock in the T20 Challenge showpiece at SuperSport Park with a blistering 87 off only 39 balls.
It would though be the former South Africa U/19 wicket-keeper’s last T20 outing in the light blues as he proceeded to cross the Jukskei River to don the red, blue and yellow of the Highveld Lions. Mosehle would no doubt have thought long and hard about his decision, but sometimes the tough calls need to be made in order to advance.
“The Titans was my life. I was part of the furniture there already,” said Mosehle, who made his first-class debut as a teenager. “I needed to get out of my comfort zone though if I wanted to grow my game. I don’t think my potential has always matched my performances, and that a played a big role in me wanting to push myself at the Lions.”
The switch has certainly been beneficial to the Mosehle’s career thus far. In the couple of months he’s been at the Wanderers, there has been a significant improvement in his consistency that has warranted a call-up to the Proteas T20 squad for Thursday’s exhibition match against the Springboks at Newlands. De Kock is unavailable due to a virus picked up on the recent Australian tour.
The national selection panel have surely been impressed with Mosehle’s run of form of late, which has included a string of scores reading: 58 v Cape Cobras, 49 v Warriors, 45 v Dolphins, 24 v Knights and 16 v Warriors. Considering these runs have come at the rasping strike-rate of 151 – the highest by any batsman in the T20 Challenge with over 200 runs – Mosehle has certainly not lost any of his “X-factor” in the search for consistency.
However, it is not just Mosehle’s form with the bat and gloves that has attracted attention this season. There is definitely a new-found self-confidence in his mannerisms, with Mosehle also playing a much more active role in the field in terms of communication with his bowlers and fielders.
While that may be the norm for a wicket-keeper, it does reflect a sense of maturity in Mosehle’s game. The rapport with coach Geoff Toyana has also been admirable with the Lions mentor seemingly being able to unlock the promise Mosehle showed while still a junior cricketer back in Duduza.
“Rob Walters encouraged me a lot at the Titans too, and especially with my wicket-keeping. But coming into the Lions changeroom, it’s a much younger environment, with the average age being close to 25, so I’ve played for about seven seasons already, and Geoff has really pushed me to share that experience with the younger guys,” Mosehle said.
“He’s really encouraged me to express myself on and off the field. Wanting me to be more active in the pre-match talks. I think the added responsibility has really helped my game because I captained the Lions in the Africa T20 Cup and really enjoyed it and would really want to do it franchise level in the future.”
But what about playing for the Proteas at Newlands on Thursday night? Surely, that must be exciting?
“Hahahaha … I don’t want to get too carried away. It’s going to be great to be among the boys, but Quinny is the man. He’s just a genius. He’s really set the standard for all keeper/batsmen in the country. I know I’ve got lots of work to do and really want to keep my head down and just put in the performances. That’s what I am focusing on and hopefully it will work out in the future. But right now it’s all about putting in the hard yards,” Mosehle said.
Independent Media