Dolphins eye home One Day final
THE Dolphins host the Titans in a vital Momentum One-day Cup clash at Kingsmead today, with much to be gained with a full haul of points.
The Dolphins are still perched on top of the table, and they know that a win will almost certainly get them a home final to close out the season.
And yet, the team in front of them, the Titans, look as if they are peaking just at the right time to make matters interesting in the run-in.
On paper, the men from Pretoria have one of the strongest squads in the country, and they are flexing their considerable muscle.
Their top order has been piling on the runs, and they are fresh off a 415 total against the Lions on Friday.
They also have a varied bowling line-up, and an experienced core, sprinkled with an exciting dose of youthful exuberance.
What makes their clash against the Dolphins interesting is that the men from Durban share almost exactly the same characteristics.
They too have a dangerous top three, who have been hurting bowling attacks with abandon.
It is terrifically set, and the trick will be for the pitch to encourage the shot-makers.
Should that happen, we could be in for a repeat of the opening match of the competition, when the Dolphins went to Centurion and snatched a high-scoring encounter, thanks to a belligerent Robbie Frylinck.
There have been other heroes since then, and they will expect someone to put their hand up again.
The Cobras, meanwhile, host the Knights in the other match today.
The Knights are no doubt still hurting from their lastgasp defeat in Port Elizabeth on Friday, and they simply have to win to maintain their interest in the play-offs.
The Cobras are nearing the end of one of their toughest seasons ever and Ashwell Prince is desperate to get more from an ageing squad in need of rejuvenation.
Both matches start at 10am today. Standings Dolphins Warriors Titans Knights Highveld Lions Cape Cobras P W L NR Pts NRR 8 5 2 1 24 0.421 8 4 3 1 21 0.440 7 4 3 0 19 0.961 7 3 4 0 14 -0.027 8 3 5 0 13 -1.051 8 3 5 0 12 -0.518