SA 20 opener hit by weather

Durban’s Super Giants and Mumbai Indians Cape Town are both targeting a strong start to the second edition of the SA20 when the sides meet at Kingsmead in Durban this evening (start 5.30pm).

In last year’s inaugural edition the Super Giants and MI CT were the two sides that missed out on the knockouts after the Cape Town-based team finished bottom of the log and the Durban side one place above them, so both will be eager for a better showing this time round.

The Super Giants will however be confident after they won both their pool matches against MI CT last year, beating them by five wickets on both occasions at Newlands and Kingsmead.

Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj was also pretty bullish about his team’s chances after they just missed out on the playoffs last season and believes they are a stronger unit this time round.

“I think the balance of the squad is a lot better than it was last season. We’ve gone with more specialists this year and we know that we have world-class performers in our ranks,” explained Maharaj.

“We’ve got players that have won trophies, so that experience and that winning mentality is in our squad.

MI CT will however be eager to spoil the Durban party and pick up a good win to get themselves off to a good start and they will hope the recent acquisition of West Indian superstar Kieron Pollard, who has also taken the captaincy reigns, will give them a major boost.

Players endured a frustrating wait as the first match of the SA20 last night between defending champions the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, coached by Adrian Birrell (below) and Joburg Super Kings was still at time of going to press, delayed due to heavy rain in Gqeberha, putting a bit of a dampener on things.