Titans hope for change of fortunes against Lions

TITANS ALLROUNDER Qaasim Adams said his side’s playoff ambitions are all but over ahead of their Ram Slam challenge clash with the Highveld Lions in Benoni today.

The Titans are winless from five matches while their neighbours have a perfect record from the same number of games and occupy top spot on the log with 22 points.

“It probably is over, but we’re still going to look to win five from five and see where that takes us,” Adams said. “We just want to get on the board with a win.”

The Titans have had problems in all areas of the game, and Henry Davids was replaced as captain by West Indian Darren Sammy last week in bid to change their fortunes.

Two losses since followed, and the leadership does not seem to be the problem according to Adams.

“It’s not just the inconsistency of our middle order, it’s the inconsistency of our whole team and we’re working hard to rectify that.”

The Titans will also be hoping to find a good playing surface in Benoni, after the last game at the ground in the one-day competition was abandoned a month ago due to an unsafe pitch. Their opponents – the Knights – were awarded the points for the aborted encounter.

In Durban, the Dolphins host the Cape Cobras in a mid-table clash and the KwaZulu Natal side’s coach said making it to the knockout stages of the competition would be their aim.

“It’s a big game, but all the games are big at this stage,” Lance Klusener said.

“I think second spot is available, if we win all our games we’ll be right in there. We’re in that position with our future in our own hands.”

Coming into the game, the Dolphins were fourth on 12 points, three behind their Cape opponents in third spot on the log.

As defending champions in the competition, Klusener said he wanted his side to be in with a chance at the business end of the competition.

“We’re trying to win every game we play. The nice thing is that we’re playing the top teams so if we have a good run then we’ll finish near the top.

“All we want is a shot at the title and, more than halfway through the competition, we can still do that.”

In the other game today, the Warriors host the Knights in East London.

On Sunday, the Titans play the Warriors in Centurion and the Lions travel to Cape Town to take on the Cobras. – Sapa