Cobras look to bounce back after painful loss

OVERCOMING mental issues will be key to the outcome of the Sunfoil Series clash between the two bottom teams, the Cape Cobras and the Warriors, according to the coaches of the two franchises ahead of today’s start at Boland Park in Paarl.

The hosts have won just one match out of six this season, while the visitors are yet to taste victory after the same number of games in the four-day campaign.

It means the clash is set for a battle within battles between both sets of players.

“We simply have to be tougher mentally,” said Warriors coach Malibongwe Maketa, whose side suffered an innings and 54-run loss to the Dolphins last weekend. “It’s now got to the stage where it’s no longer about ability, because the guys we have here have done it before.

“The main objective for us is just to get mentally stronger. The guys are way better than what the results are suggesting.

“We’ll need to dig deep and execute better under pressure,” said Maketa, pictured top.

The Cobras, meanwhile, lost by an innings and 78 runs to the Highveld Lions in their last game and their coach, Paul Adams, is trying to get his players in the right frame of mind for the clash.

“Both teams are coming off disappointing games on their return to the Series,” he said. “We’re looking to focus and keep things really simple, particularly from a batting point of view. We need to do the basics really well, that’s very important for me.

“It’s been very inconsistent from us. I'm trying to look at how we can get there, maybe get the minds of players in that right space once more.”

Adams, pictured bottom, says that last week’s result was painful as he had hoped to start the second half of the competition well.

“For us, we were really looking for a good game to start the second half of the competition and to try and stay in touch,” he added. “This now becomes a key game if we want to close the gap on the teams above us.”

Seamer Dane Paterson, rested last week due to his heavy recent workload, is being monitored by the Cobras and could play.

Kelly Smuts, Akhona Kula and Sisanda Magala have all been added to the Warriors’ squad. – ANA