Warriors are on the warpath
AMASSIVE top of the table clash is on at Buffalo Park tomorrow when the Warriors take on the Titans with the winner set to take top spot on the overall Cricket SA T20 Challenge log.
Whoever finishes top will thus go straight into a home final next week Friday, while the team finishing second will need to play a play-off match against the third placed team on Wednesday to reach the final.
This means plenty will ride on the match with home ground advantage and no play-off game a strong motivator for both teams.
The Titans will also be looking for a bit of pay back after the Warriors beat them earlier in the competition.
“I think they will be coming for a bit of revenge. I don't know what it is but whenever we play the Titans we up our game by more than 150%. We really want to win, and also secure a home final,” said Warriors and Border batsman Christiaan Jonker.
The Warriors have enjoyed a really good T20 campaign so far winning six games and losing just two to sit two points behind the Titans ahead of last night’s match against the Cobras.
“Things have been going really well. It has been very exciting for us and the guys have been enjoying every minute of it,” admitted Jonker.
“We have just been taking it one day at a time and making sure we are fully focused.”
The Warriors first game of the T20 competition at Buffalo Park was this past Wednesday's record breaking humdinger against the Dolphins where they chased down 216 to win with an over to spare and with the Titans having also scored a record-setting 230/5 against the Lions on the same night, another run fest could be on the cards.
“The wicket we played on, on Wednesday, was similar to the one we played on in the Africa Cup and it was a proper batting track,” said Jonker.
“We knew any score was chaseable on it and knew we just had to be in the right frame of mind to do it.”
This season Jonker has been in terrific form, starting with Border in both the three day and one day competitions. He has carried that form into his Warriors T20 duties and after scoring the winning runs against the Dolphins on his home ground he will want to give the fans more to cheer about.
“East London is my second home now so it is always a treat to play in front of the home crowd. I enjoy that a lot and even the staff and workers at Buffalo Park make me feel so welcome,” explained Jonker.
The match is set to get under way at 2:30pm tomorrow and tickets can be bought at www.ticketpros.co.za or at Buffalo Park today and Sunday from 9am.