Warriors out to tame Lions
Maketa’s men to pull out all the stops to secure T20 final spot Injury forces De Villiers to relinquish captaincy
THE Warriors carry the hopes of Eastern Cape cricket fans on their shoulders when they square up against the Highveld Lions in their CSA T20 Challenge crucial playoff fixture at St George’s Park tonight (6pm).
At stake for both teams is a spot in Friday’s final against the Titans in Centurion.
The Warriors had an early opportunity to get into the final but were undone by the Titans in a five-overs each slugfest at Buffalo Park on Sunday.
They only lost that encounter by six runs in chasing 81 for victory, but it did mean that they would have to return to Port Elizabeth for tonight’s “semifinal”.
Standing in the way of the Warriors will be a determined Lions outfit. The teams beat each other during the round-robin stage but Warriors were probably the more consistent side during the competition.
But history will count for very little and Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa adds that his team did not mull over the Titans defeat for too long on Sunday evening.
“It’s one of those lotteries where somebody does something special like Farhaan Berhardien did and it leaves you really stranded. The only thing we can ask of ourselves is were we mentally ready. But take nothing away from what he did. It’s difficult to criticise after a five-over game.”
Maketa agrees that not finishing top of the table was disappointing but added that his team still had plenty of fight left.
“At the end of the day we want to go out and win the competition. We still in it besides the fact that we missed out on a home final. We need to now make sure we get in that final to win it. We keeping the same squad. There are not many changes we can make in terms of the fiveover bash. It’s difficult to really evaluate and mark anyone down. We’ve played some good cricket in this competition with the same squad. It’s important for us to put Sunday behind us.”
Maketa is not underestimating the quality of game play the Lions bring to the encounter.
“They really go hard upfront with Rassie van der Dussen, in terms of the powerplay. And with the bowling they try to strangle you with their spinners after the powerplay. They have Bjorn Fortuin bowling in the powerplay and then Aaron Phangiso and Eddie Leie bowl in the middle overs. It’s really based on how you handle the spinners in those middle overs. I felt like we played them pretty well in the past two games. We’ve looked to hit them as straight as we can.”
The Warriors have not relied on any one person to pull them through this campaign, it has been largely a team effort.
“As a team I’m really pleased about where we are. We have different guys contributing when it is needed and both skills have been up there in terms of execution. Jon-Jon [Smuts] and the two Colins [Ingram and Ackermann] have stepped up and Christiaan Jonker has been amazing at the back end of the innings.
Andrew Birch is the leading wicket-taker in the competition and has been well-supported by Basheer Walters and Sisanda Magala. Our spinners have been bowling really well as well. So in terms of balance and how we go about things, I’m really happy. We just have to make sure we pitch up mentally and be prepared for a knockout game.”
Maketa is banking on the support of a sizeable crowd to help lift his team to victory tonight.
“We really want to make the people of the Eastern Cape proud of our team. We want to reward them for the support we have received from the start.” The squads are: Warriors: Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Kyle Abbott, Colin Ackermann, Qaasim Adams, Andrew Birch, Gihahn Cloete, Clyde Fortuin, Aya Gqamane, Colin Ingram, Christiaan Jonker, Sisanda Magala, Lesiba Ngoepe, Solo Nqweni, Basheer Walters, David White.
Lions (likely team): Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Mangi Mosehle (w/k), Temba Bavuma, Nicky van den Bergh, Dwaine Pretorius, Hardus Viljoen, Wiaan Mulder, Eddie Leie, Aaron Phangiso (capt), Bjorn Fortuin. — reevesa- AB DE Villiers has relinquished the captaincy of South Africa’s Test team with immediate effect‚ Cricket South Africa (CSA) said yesterday.
He has also been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka‚ which starts on December 26‚ because of his troublesome elbow.
“The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual‚ including me‚” De Villiers was quoted as saying in a CSA statement.
“Following the squad’s outstanding performances in Australia it is clearly in the greater interests of the team that Faf du Plessis should be confirmed as the permanent Test captain.
“I have known Faf for almost 20 years‚ ever since we played in the same school side at Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool‚ and he will have my unequivocal support if he is asked to continue leading this exciting Proteas Test team.”
South African team manager Mohammed Moosajee‚ who is also the team’s doctor‚ explained why De Villiers’ elbow‚ which was surgically repaired early in October‚ was still not up to scratch: “AB’s left elbow is much improved but is still regaining the last few degrees of straightening.
“Fitness to play requires full range of elbow movement and this may take another three to four weeks to achieve.
“He will be unavailable for the Test series against Sri Lanka and will target a return for the one-day series starting at the end of January.”
CSA confirmed that Faf du Plessis‚ who has led South Africa to victory in nine of the 11 matches they have played since De Villiers has been on the sidelines‚ would continue as captain for the Lankan Test series.
But Du Plessis could be suspended if he loses his appeal‚ which will be heard on December 19‚ against a ball-tampering conviction. — TMG Digital