EP aim to keep pot on boil

Eastern Province coach Piet Botha believes consolidation and sensible cricket will be key if his side are to remain at the summit of the CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup pool A standings.

Botha was speaking after the team had another good weekend with a hard-fought stalemate against the South Western Districts in the 3-Day competition, before securing a 46-run victory in the One-Day Challenge match.

While Eastern Province head up the table in their pool, Botha said there would be no time for complacency as they go in search of a coveted final berth against the winners of pool B.

“We have to win the next two games, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“We cannot worry too much about what teams around us are doing.

“We have to focus on the quality of cricket we have been playing, try to keep the intensity going into each match.

“If we do that, it might help us to end on top, but we will need to work for it.”

Botha said the fitness trainer appointed for this season had played a huge role in the change in players’ mental approach to each game.

“To play four days of cricket, of which three days are very intense, you need to be both mentally and physically strong, in addition to being conditioned,” he said.

The team will now have a two-week lay-off before their next encounter against Free State in Bloemfontein.