Giants ready to stand the Heat
NMB Giants will look to take one step closer to the playoffs when they come up against the Durban Heat at Kingsmead in their Mzansi Super League fixture on Wednesday (7pm).
The Giants are coming off an 81-run loss at the hands of the Jozi Stars at St George’s Park where Reeza Hendricks blew them out of the water with a second consecutive hundred.
The loss was a setback, but by no means catastrophic as the Giants remain one of the favourites to make it to the playoff stage.
But they will need to win at least one of their last three matches if not two, and that makes Wednesday’s result crucial in the long run.
Bolstering the Giants’ cause is the timely addition of Englishman Jason Roy to their ranks.
The globetrotting explosive right-hander returns to the city of his birth on Wednesday looking to make an impression for this week’s team of choice after completing a stint with the Bengal Tigers in T10 League in the UAE at the weekend.
The Heat will also have allrounder Rashid Khan arriving from the same tournament, and it could come down to which one of the two international marquee players performs the best on the day.
Giants captain Jon-Jon Smuts is not too fazed by their most recent result. The Giants have mostly performed well in the event, and Smuts was at peace with getting a bad performance behind them.
“To be honest, you probably actually want to lose a few games. I’d hate to win 10 on the trot and then slip up when it counts. You know you always good to lose one or two. I suppose the good thing about this format is that individuals can win games.”
Smuts knows that competition for the three top qualifying spots will be tight down the final straight.
The Durban Heat are placed last on the log, and that in itself is a mystery when one considers they can field a team full on internationals at any given time. It is surprising they have only won one game in six, and the Giants will be hoping they do not choose Wednesday evening to click as a unit.
“I feel all six sides are all still very close. I still feel there may be a few results that might shock people when it comes to the last few group games of the tournament,” said Smuts.
“There are going to be a few changes happening in terms of the log positions and all that. It is still very interesting.”
Heat coach Grant Morgan is relieved to gain the services of Khan.
“There is no doubt that Rashid is going to add fire power to our bowling attack,” said Morgan. “I think we have bowled relatively well in this tournament so far, so if he comes and adds some more muscle to that it augurs well for us.”
Morgan is also hoping for a measure of revenge after losing to the Giants in PE in the first round.
“We know their unit quite well and, credit to them, they did play well in PE in our first clash against them.”