Rabada back for the Lions

THE young quickie Kagiso Rabada will make his first RamSlam T20 appearance this season as the bizhub Highveld Lions attempt to arrest their flagging form in the crucial last week of the competition.

Rabada has been allowed to rest by the Lions since he returned from representing the Proteas in a T20 series in Australia earlier this month, but will come back in for today’s clash against The Unlimited Titans at Senwes Park.

After winning their first five games in the tournament, the Lions have lost their last two and have surrendered first place in the standings.

“We’ve had two bad games, and it’s up to us to try and just win one more to make sure that we regain that momentum and finish well in the competition,” coach Geoffrey Toyana, said.

“All the other teams are getting closer so it’s a big weekend for us.”

One other change to the side will see Alviro Petersen replaced by Rassie van der Dussen, who notched up an impressive half-century in one of the two games in which he stood in for an injured Chris Gayle.

Theform of the Titans has been a reversal of the Lions – they lost their opening five games but have two wins and a tie from their last three.

That has kept them in with an unlikely shot at the play-offs, and fast bowler Ethy Mbhalati and batsman Heino Kuhn have been recalled to the squad for the game against the Lions.

“We’ve got a bit of momentum after winning two out of three and I’m just happy that we’re starting to play the sort of cricket that we’re capable of,” said Titans coach Rob Walter.

“It’s probably a bit late in the piece but hopefully it can continue.”

The Diamond Oval will be the equivalent of the Last Chance Saloon for the Sunfoil Dolphins today when they attempt to take down the Chevrolet Knights, their closest rivals for a play-off spot.

Although the Dolphins remained in fourth place after Wednesday’s defeat to the Titans, it left them five points behind the third-placed Knights, having played a game more.

Victory over the Knights is, therefore, non-negotiable if the defending champions are to stay in the tournament.

The Nashua Cape Cobras know that they must find the formula to crack the Chevrolet Warriors if they are to finish the round robin phase in the fashion required to secure a home final.

In a strange scheduling twist, the two sides will meet twice in six days over the last three rounds of the competition – first in a televised encounter at St George’s Park tonight.