Dolphins out to make statement
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TAKE ON LIONS
The Dolphins, having held off the Cape Cobras last week in Pietermaritzburg to help the Highveld Lions win the four-day title, will now be looking to york Enoch Nkwe’s team at the same venue today as they play their opening Momentum OneDay Cup match.
And the Dolphins will be bringing plenty of firepower to the game. Not only are they the joint defending champions, but they have nine Proteas in their lineup, including two of the national team’s bowling kingpins in Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo.
Robbie Frylinck is also a highly-skilled all-rounder, while David Miller leads an experienced batting order featuring Khaya Zondo, Dane Vilas, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Morne van Wyk.
But the Lions, full of players who have grabbed both the Mzansi Super League and CSA FourDay Domestic Series trophies, will be a tough nut to crack with three of the Proteas’ stars from their limited-overs wins over Pakistan – skilful bowler Beuran Hendricks and in-form batsmen Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks – expected to play.
Times are tough, however, up the road at Centurion, where the Titans ended their four-day campaign in total disarray.
It is times like these that really test a coach and Mark Boucher will need his side to regroup and start afresh when they host the Knights on Sunday.
Heinrich Klaasen, who has seen his form plummet as he has been in and out of the Proteas set-up, is key for the Titans as he was their leading run-scorer in last season’s 50-over competition. The Titans have not yet said whether he will take over the captaincy from Albie Morkel, who retired last month.
It is time, however, for players like Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Heino Kuhn, Shaun von Berg, Junior Dala and Tabraiz Shamsi to really stand up and ensure a positive start.
The one bit of bright news for the Titans is that they know all-rounder Chris Morris is in fine form following his excellent bowling and explosive unbeaten half-century for the Proteas against Pakistan in the third T20 International at Centurion in midweek.