WARRIORS OUT TO MAKE BIG IMPRESSION
Prince’s second match in charge of Cobras
ACLOSE contest is expected when the Warriors take on the Cape Cobras in Sunfoil Series action at Buffalo Park in East London today. Both teams are still in the running in the four-day competition and will be striving for maximum points.
The Warriors head into the match off a rain-affected draw against the Dolphins at the weekend and will hope the weather does not play a part in this match as well.
Warriors captain Simon Harmer said: “Durban was frustrating for us with all the rain.
“It seems to be a trend when there are fixtures in Durban.
“But East London has always treated us well.
“We often get incredible support at Buffalo Park, so we are looking forward to the game.
“It is obviously a very important game against the Cobras.
“The way the results went last week the competition is still open, so the boys are hungry and looking to make an impact.”
The home team will look to their senior players, Colin Ackermann and Basheer Walters, to put in some top performances.
Ackermann is the top run-scorer in this year’s Sunfoil Series so far and was again in great nick as he scored 81 runs in their only innings.
Walters and Harmer are the Warriors’ top wicket-takers so far this season, and with them tied seventh on the overall wickettaking stakes, they will be watched to make the vital breakthrough.
“I am happy with where the guys are. We have been working really hard.
“In every game someone puts in a performance,” Harmer said.
For the Cobras, despite their victory over the Highveld Lions at the weekend, the team are going through a transitional period after coach Paul Adams was redeployed and assistant coach Ashwell Prince was elevated to the hot seat just a few weeks ago.
With this being Prince’s second game as the main man in charge, the team should still be coming to grips with his style.
The team’s hero, Wayne Parnell, who took six wickets in the last match and scored an unbeaten 103 in the second innings, has been called into the Proteas fold, and will be unavailable for the match.
“The Cobras are always a good team, but there is a lot that has gone on at the franchise and they are in a rebuilding phase,” Harmer said.
“But we are under no illusions – it is going to be a tough match and we are making sure we concentrate on our own disciplines so that we come out on top.” A homecoming of sorts will be on the cards for former Border allrounder Aviwe Mgijima.
He is firmly entrenched in the Cobras set-up.
Coming off his second-highest firstclass score of 73 at the weekend, he will aim to impress on his return to East London.
The action gets under way at 10am today.
The boys are hungry and looking to make an impact
The squads: Warriors: Colin Ackermann, Andrew Birch, Clyde Fortuin, Gionne Koopman, Simon Harmer (capt), Edward Moore, Aya Gqamane, Sisanda Magala, Lesiba Ngoepe, Jerry Nqolo, Yaseen Vallie, Basheer Walters, Somila Seyibokwe Cobras: Dane Piedt (capt), Simon Khomari, Rory Kleinveldt, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Andrew Puttick, Kyle Simmonds, Jason Smith, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas