Warriors feel rain gods’ wrath
It has been a stop-start campaign so far for the Warriors in the CSA T20 Challenge competition, with rain robbing the team of any chance of building up some early momentum.
In their four games so far they have had two games washed out, one without a ball being bowled, the other was their most recent outing against the Lions at Buffalo Park where they managed to bat 18.4 overs before rain came down to end play.
One of their other two matches was also rain-affected, their only win of the competition so far – a four-run Duckworth/Lewis assisted win against the Titans – while they finally got in a full game against the Cobras, which turned out to be a heavy seven-wicket loss.
So out of the four matches so far, where the Warriors could have batted and bowled a maximum of 80 overs each, they have only managed to bat 44.4 overs and bowl 35.5.
“It would be nice if we could get some cricket going and get some momentum, it has been a bit stop-start so far, but there is nothing that we can do about that,” admitted Warriors coach Rivash Gobind.
“So our preparation has to be spot on and hopefully the weather will open up for us and we can get in a good run of games, so we are looking forward to that.”
With six pool stage matches remaining before the knockouts the Warriors will hope to get in some decent game time to secure themselves a place in the playoffs.
They will have the advantage of playing four of those six games at home, however the next will be away in Durban against the Dolphins.
“It is nice because we will be in familiar surroundings, so when we get into the back end of the competition hopefully we will be able to take advantage of our home conditions,” said Gobind.
“But every game in this competition is important, whether you are home or away and we are trying to win every one, so with six games left in the comp we will need to be at our best.”
The Warriors will look to take a small bit of momentum from the Lions game into the Dolphins match, as when rain called proceedings to a halt they were in the ascendancy.
Having been in trouble at 58/4 in the 10th over a superb fightback led by Marco Marais' unbeaten 33-ball 82 and 38 from Sinethemba Qeshile had the Warriors in a solid position at 155/5 with eight balls still remaining
“It was a very special innings to get us back into a reasonable position in the game, but that is something that is exciting about this group of players is that sort of knock can come from a lot of guys in this line up,” explained Gobind.
“I thought the way Marco played there was outstanding, I am sure people have watched a lot of cricket on this ground and seen him do it for Border, and it is fantastic that he has now done it for us and hopefully it is an innings that opens up his actual potential at this level.
“If we can put it together in the power play and set a base for guys like Marco to come in, I think then we are going to be a very dangerous side.”
The team will now hope for a full game in Durban on Wednesday with no rain intervention, so that they can aim for a momentum building win to take into their final five pool stage games of the competition.
“Hopefully the weather isn't a factor, but you never know with Durban, but we will deal with that when we get there, we will just prepare as well as we can,” said Gobind.
“The Dolphins are a good side, they have been playing some good cricket in this format over the last two years and we are looking forward to the challenge.
“Obviously the semifinal in the 50-over comp (in Durban) we didn't cover ourselves in glory there, so it is an opportunity for us to put things right.”
It’s been a bit stop-start so far, but there is nothing we can do about that