Knights set for a right royal challenge without their stars
JOHANNESBURG: The Knights face a test of their depth over the next few weeks, as they seek to maintain their challenge in the Momentum One-Day Cup.
The Sunfoil Series champions are victims of their own success with two of their star players promoted to the Proteas Test team for the threematch series against New Zealand, while for the next week they will also be without bigname signing Dave Miller.
Theunis de Bruyn and Duanne Olivier were central figures in the Knights’ triumph in the four-day competition but with both away for the remainder of the tournament, Nicky Boje has to hope that the franchise’s depth is able to maintain their challenge for the next month.
Although Olivier’s sole outing – against the Cape Cobras was not the most auspicious as he conceded 67 runs and took just one wicket in 10 overs – he has, as he showed in the Sunfoil Series, the ability to take wickets, always a useful attribute, regardless of the format.
De Bruyn will be missed. He was the dominant player in the Knights’ win against the Cobras, scoring 132 off 117 balls as part of a 100-run thumping of the Cape franchise.
The Knights captain has been in outstanding form throughout the season, and his leadership was critical to the side’s success in the Sunfoil Series. In his absence, last Saturday, the Knights struggled, losing by 64 runs in pursuit of 186 against the Warriors.
It places a huge amount of pressure on the likes of Rudi Second and Pite van Biljon, the other two senior Knights batsmen, while the likes of young Leus du Plooy, who produced some impressive performances in the T20 Challenge, and Diego Rosier need to provide greater output with the bat.
As last Saturday showed, they have enough armoury with the ball, even in Olivier’s absence and it could be argued that Dillon du Preez makes their one-day team stronger given his ability with the bat.
So as they tackle the Dolphins at home in Bloemfontein tonight, it’s their batsmen who will be under scrutiny. Their opponents have also lost a key component who would have been able to take advantage of the Knights’ weakness. Keshav Maharaj has joined De Bruyn and Olivier in New Zealand, with the Dolphins calling on Senuram Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen to provide slow-bowling options.
Morne van Wyk and skipper Khaya Zondo have shown good form with the bat and in Rob Frylinck they have a slogger, who’s a major game-changing weapon.