Clash of the Titans
WARRIORS POINT BEHIND WITH GAME IN HAND Titans take on Highveld Lions in Jukskei derby.
The Titans might still be top of the CSA T20 Challenge table, but these days it is their opponents in today’s Jukskei derby in Centurion, the Highveld Lions, who have been hearing most of the applause and momentum is with the visitors.
The Titans looked untouchable a week ago, unbeaten through six games, but two successive defeats and a storming run of form by the Warriors has suddenly left them vulnerable. The Eastern Cape side are now just a point behind with a game in hand, so victory is vital for the Titans’ hopes of hosting the final.
The Lions are third after three successive wins and need to maintain that form if they are to hold off the hard-chasing Dolphins and Cobras for the last play-off spot.
“We do have good momentum, which is because we’ve played some good cricket. I’m happy with the way the team is playing now – although we can still improve, especially in the fielding – and the side is balanced now. Plus Temba Bavuma is joining us, so we’re in a good space,” Lions coach Geoff Toyana said yesterday.
“Our destiny is in our own hands, but it’s tough there in the playoff race, we just have to keep doing what we do well and try and improve by 5 to 10% each game.”
Toyana said he fully expects AB de Villiers to be in the Titans team even though he was not named in the 15-man squad coach Mark Boucher released yesterday.
Boucher said he was not overly concerned by the two losses last week to the Dolphins and Warriors.
“I’m not looking too much into those defeats. But I thought it was a first stumble as a batting unit against the Warriors, so that was disappointing. Hopefully the guys can pick up now after a small rest and finish strongly this week.
“It’s getting tight at the top there, but we remain in control of our own destiny. If we win our next two games, we should get a home final,” he said.
In today’s other games, the Warriors face a crunch match against the Dolphins in East London and the Cape Cobras really need to beat the Knights at Newlands to stay in contention for a play-off spot.