Warriors braced for KP’s full-scale attack
A BATTLE of the big hitters is on the cards as the Warriors welcome Kevin Pietersen and the Dolphins to Buffalo Park for their CSA T20 Challenge match tonight.
Fans could be in for a treat as a host of in-form batsmen look to duel it out.
Jon Jon Smuts, Colin Ackerman and Christiaan Jonker for the home team and Pietersen, Morne van Wyk and Cameron Delport for the visitors, should be the players in the limelight today.
“This is what T20 cricket is all about,” said Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa.
“We have been in really good form this season and although we lost the last time out I believe the guys can get it right against the Dolphins tomorrow (today) and get back on the winning trail.”
Pietersen is the highest profile name in the mix and fresh from hammering a 51ball 79 against the Cobras on Sunday, albeit in a losing effort, including three boundaries and five maximums, two of which flew completely out of the ground, he will be hungry for more runs.
The last time a player of Pietersen’s calibre played against the Warriors at Buffalo Park, Chris Gayle smashed a 108 runs off 55 balls to give the Lions a 10wicket win in a Ram Slam T20 match back in November 2014.
The Warriors’ answer to Pietersen will most likely come in the form of Christiaan Jonker, who has been in great knick this season and came so close to equalling the fastest fifty in CSA T20 Challenge history when he blitzed 49 off 18 balls against the Lions earlier in the competition.
Jonker’s average of 70.50 is the second highest in the competition, behind the Titans’ Farhaan Berhadien and his strike rate of 167.85 is only bettered by the Cobras’ Rory Kleinveldt, Berhadien and the Dolphins Robbie Frylinck.
A good start is, however, always needed to allow the big hitters to do their thing and to that end Smuts and Van Wyk will both be aiming to get their respective sides off to the perfect start.
Van Wyk currently sits joint top of the competition run charts with 267 runs at an average of 38.14, while Smuts sits fifth on 216 at an average of 36.
Both have enjoyed success so far in the competition, with Van Wyk slamming an incredible 37 fours, but only four sixes, while Smuts is a bit more balanced having hit 24 boundaries and 10 maximums.
The competition’s leading wicket-taker Andrew Birch is primed to fire for the home side, but it may well be a night for the batsmen.
The Dolphins saw their casualty list lengthen when they were beaten by the Cobras after an injury to Mthokozisi Shezi. Mbasa Gqadushe is also sidelined, meaning a recall for Craig Alexander and an inclusion for Sibonelo Makhanya.
Their latest setback means the fourthplaced Durbanites must win their last two matches to stand any chance of making the playoffs. They will also need other results to go in their favour.
The match is set to get under way at 6pm and tickets can still be found at www.ticketpros.co.za and at Buffalo Park from 9am today for R60 adults and R30 scholars and pensioners.