All in the mind for Titans
TITANS coach Rob Walters spoke of the importance of “mental decision-making” as his team confront the Dolphins in a key Sunfoil Series match at Centurion today.
Walters blamed poor mental discipline for his team’s loss to the Cobras two weeks ago and emphasised how important that aspect of the game will be this weekend.
“The game against the Dolphins will be a huge one for us,” he said.
The same imperatives surely hold true for the visitors, who come into this match buoyed by their outstanding eight-wicket win over the Cobras at Newlands last week.
It was a result that pushed the Dolphins into second place, still 17 points adrift of the Lions. But with the Titans less than two points behind them, victory is equally crucial for both sides – especially if the Knights find a way to defeat the Lions in Bloemfontein.
The Dolphins are in the middle of a six-week stretch of matches which has put pressure on the fitness of their players – particularly their
TEAMS
(from): Imraan Khan, Divan van Wyk, Khaya Zondo, Cody Chetty, Daryn Smit, Morne van Wyk (capt, w/k), Andile Phehlukwayo, Calvin Savage, Keshav Maharaj, Matt Pillans, Daryn Dupavillon, Graham Hume, Ryan McLaren
(from): Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Henry Davids (capt), Graeme van Buuren, Roelof van der Merwe, Qaasim Adams, David Wiese, Mangaliso Mosehle (w/k), Shaun von Berg, Rowan Richards, Ethy Mbhalati, Marchant de Lange, Albie Morkel fast bowlers. Fortunately, coach Lance Klusener can report a healthy stable of quicks with Craig Alexander, Ryan McLaren and Robbie Frylinck all close to full fitness.
None of them will play this weekend, but McLaren, who is coming back from a hamstring injury, will intensify his rehab by bowling in the SuperSport Park nets this weekend.
“We’re halfway through the six games so it gets tough from now on,” Klusener said.
“We’ve been lucky to have a young bowling attack and most of them weren’t on duty for the one-day stuff so that’s helped a bit.
“We’ll have guys coming back from injuries, so if we need to make changes then we can do that. We’re in there with a chance, but we have three tough games against some good teams.
“I guess how we go in the next two games will decide what happens.”
The young fast bowlers who have performed particularly well are Matt Pillans and Daryn Dupavillon who should start again today.
Pillans grabbed a 10-wicket match haul against the Knights two weeks ago, a feat duplicated by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj at Newlands last weekend.
The Titans will welcome back their ace strike bowler, Marchant de Lange, and will also have all-rounder Albie Morkel available for what their captain Henry Davids admits is a “must-win game”.
The Titans won’t be looking for a seam-friendly pitch now their fast bowler is back.
“You want to have a good cricket wicket – you don’t want the two teams to get out for not many runs because in order to catch up with the Lions we need the extra bonus points from batting,” said Davids.