May the clouds part and allow us a bit of drama
DURBAN: There has been a hell of a lot of talk since the final round of the T20 Challenge, and it has rumbled on to the point where men of influence are in danger of making a Cape mountain out of a Pretoria molehill.
Thankfully, the actual cricket resumed yesterday, with the Titans and the Warriors contesting the first semifinal. Tomorrow night, the Dolphins host the Cape Cobras in the second semi-final, though it could have been the other way around if Sunday had gone differently for both teams.
“It was disappointing (hearing that the Dolphins had secured a bonus point), but I think we are more disappointed in ourselves for losing that final match to the Warriors,” Cobras all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt admitted.
“If we had won, we wouldn’t have worried about what the Dolphins did. It would have been better to have a home semi, in front of our own fans, but we have to come and do the business here.”
That response is all it is, in essence. Had the Cobras beaten the Warriors, none of the subsequent noise would have started. Kleinveldt added that the Titans earned the right to do whatever they wanted. Now, the Cobras must move on and overcome the Dolphins on the road. In front of us is a tantalising battle, between two wellmatched teams with a point to prove. The Cobras, top-heavy with bat and ball (they load their big guns upfront, and attempt to inflict early damage) visit a Dolphins side that has kept much of its powder dry for much of the competition.
They have insisted that it matters most that they play their best cricket when it matters most, and it has seldom mattered more than this crunch semi-final.
“I have always said that we owe the Durban public as a team, and we now have an opportunity to repay them in a massive match, in front of them,” coach Grant Morgan roared.
Morgan and his men have had a stigma over them; the team that drew their way into the final four, and possibly beyond.
“We want to play. We don’t train all week just to hope for rain. We feel that it is our time, and we want to go out there and prove that. Every single person in our dressing-room would like nothing more than going out there and playing a full game of cricket,” Morgan insisted.
The weather, of course, is beyond their control. Or the control of the Cobras, for that matter. The men from Cape Town landed in sunshine, checked into their hotel, and convoyed to Kingsmead for an optional practice – with the sky already taking on an ominous grey.
“It’s one of those things that you can’t control,” skipper JP Duminy shrugged.
They were in charge of the last match they played at Kingsmead, with Duminy himself starring with a brutal, 44-ball 85. “We were in charge of that match, but they can also point to the first match of the competition, when they beat us. So we have to turn up on the day, and perform,” a refreshed-looking Duminy added.
His form has been vital, and surely will be again if the Cobras are to prevail.
“It has been a great turnaround for me. It had been an average year for me personally, especially in international cricket, but I have enjoyed the responsibility of leading the Cobras, and then putting up the performances that I know I can produce,” Duminy smiled.
Now, as he looks to a onceoff battle against the Dolphins, Duminy says that it is imperative for the senior players to stand up. “When it gets down to these matches, you look for the big performances from your experienced guys. We have improved our fielding, which was a problem, and we have been looking for that 9 or 10 out of 10 game,” Duminy said.
“Hopefully, it comes now in the playoffs. Only the weather stands between us and a riveting battle of wills and styles, and we can only hope that the clouds part and allow for the drama to unfold on the field, and we can go back to talking about the cricket.
Meanwhile, Stuart Hess reports that IT WAS a far from polished display by the Titans, but such is the experience and class at the franchise, that ultimately a spot in the T20 Challenge final was booked very comfortably by eight wickets at SuperSport Park yesterday.
The Warriors lost two wickets in the powerplay, but were still able to score at 9.5 runs an over, giving themselves a very good platform for a big score on what appeared to be a slow pitch, something to which they are accustomed to.
Colin Ingram (41) and Colin Ackermann (48) shared a 63-run partnership for the third wicket off 46 balls, much to the concern of the home team. The match turned in the 14th over, when left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi claimed the wickets of first Christiaan Jonker and then Ackermann – trapped lbw by a quicker delivery.
From 114/3 in that over the Warriors lost their remaining seven wickets for the addition of just 29 runs off 30 balls to be bowled out for 143. Shamsi was outstanding, mixing pace and flight to dial in figures of 4/32. Markram claimed 1/30.
Although Aiden Markram wasn’t at his best, he still helped himself to an unbeaten 56 as part of a partnership of 101 with AB de Villiers, who also notched up a half-century, finishing not out on 54.