The best is yet to come, says Rocks captain Pieter Malan after CSA T20 Challenge triumph

Cape Town — The Rocks have painted the South African cricket landscape pink and purple again after their T20 Challenge triumph in Gqeberha, but captain Pieter Malan believes the best is yet to come.

The Rocks are a new addition to the South African first-class system after the six-team franchise system was disbanded at the end of last season when the domestic structure was reverted to provincial unions.

The six major provinces were included in Division 1 along with the Rocks (Boland) and North West in the expanded eight team league.

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The (Paarl) Rocks were formerly only a T20 franchise that competed in the Mzansi Super League, while Boland was a semi-professional union.

But due to the success the Paarl Rocks achieved by winning the last MSL title in 2019, the brand was carried through to the new system.

It has not been an easy transition though in the first year with the Rocks having to formulate a new squad from scratch while losing batting coach Saliegh Nackerdien to neighbours Western Province just before the start of the season.

But the Rocks have perserved through some shrewd signings of their own in the Malan brothers Janneman and captain Pieter. They have also not been afraid to mix the experience of veterans such as Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg and Hardus Viljoen alongside SA u19 rookies Michael Copeland and Valentine Kitime.

The importantance of therefore winning the T20 Challenge goes beyond simply the R1million prize money, but is rather fundamental to the people of the Boland region who are relishing the fact they once again have a team to be proud of.

"It's a fantastic feeling to have won this tournament. The