CALM BEFORE STORM
Giants coach calls for calm in MSL semis
Nelson Mandela Bay Giants head coach Eric Simons believes the team which remains calm under pressure will emerge on top in the Mzansi Super League semifinal against Tshwane Spartans at St George’s Park on Friday.
And the pressure is bound to reach boiling point as the second and third-placed teams clash for a spot in the final away to the Paarl Rocks on Monnday.
Simons is confident in his team’s ability to play some good cricket, but said they will not take lightly the threat that AB de Villiers and the Spartans possess.
“We bowled well against them in Pretoria. That’s when we had them 30 odd for four which is a good position to be in, then the rain came.
“They are a strong side. They have AB de Villiers who is capable of winning a match on his own.
“However, he is not the only one. There are a number of players in their line-up who are quality players. They have a quality bowling attack and they are a well-balanced team.
“It’s important that we do the basics right which is what we did wrong on Sunday [against Paarl Rocks].
“We didn’t get our basics right, we didn’t stay calm under pressure, both with bat and ball. We did it against them last time, they got off to a good start, but we pulled them back with some good bowling and then chased down a big score by staying calm and sticking to the plan,” Simons said.
Asked about their campaign so far, Simons said: “It’s difficult to look back at any tournament like this and say we missed some opportunities.
“As a sportsman, naturally you look at what you could have done better differently, but we are happy to be part of the knockouts. I think we missed a trick on Sunday, we could have beaten them,” Simons said at the team’s training session this week.
Simon added that there has been an air of positivity in the team throughout the tournament.
“That has been one of the hallmarks of this team and we have never stopped fighting. So even when we’ve lost early wickets, we’ve still got to decent scores.
“We got into trouble against them [Spartans] the last time, but still managed to chase the score down. They fight for each other, they play for each other and that’s all you can ask from them,” he said.
The Giants have not been at their ruthless best in the opening six and final four overs in recent matches and Simons said those areas were very important in terms of game management.
“The game has essentially got three phases - the first six, over six to 15-16 and then the back acceleration.
“We have been very good in the middle through most of the tournament with bat and ball, and that set up our wins.
“The better we can control the first six the more we can bring someone like Imran Tahir in the middle overs,” Simons said.
With prolific opener Jason Roy ruled out through injury, Simons admitted that it was a huge loss for them.
“He is a power player, an intimidating player and a player who any opposition likes to see the back of.
“it’s a great disappointment, but we have won without him and we will need to keep doing that,” he said.
The match starts at 5.30pm.
As a sportsman, naturally you look at what you could have done better differently, but we are happy to be part of the knockouts