Warriors chase perfect showing as crunch game against Titans looms
Warriors batsman Marco Marais says the team is still hunting for the perfect performance as they head into the final three Momentum One-Day Cup pool matches, starting with the Titans in Benoni today.
They are delicately poised in third place on the log with 11 points, one ahead of the Titans in fourth and Knights in fifth and three ahead of bottom-of-the-table Cape Cobras.
The table-topping Dolphins and second-placed Lions are comfortably ahead of the chasing pack, having dominated the competition so far, and have all but qualified for the semifinals.
However, the Titans are in the pound seats with a game in hand over the Warriors, making today’s match even more important.
“All of us want to do well and contribute to the team,” Marais said.
“We have had some good performances this season but we haven’t yet had that perfect team performance, so hopefully we can get that in the last three games.”
“We are looking forward to taking on the Titans.
“Preparation has been good this week, there has been a good vibe in the camp and it is now all about us executing what we have worked on in the match.
“Benoni is always a tough place to go to — the wicket is quick and the ball travels — but we are ready for the challenge and hopefully can come away with a win.”
One of the players the Warriors will be wary of is Proteas opening batsman Aiden Markram, who has returned to action after sustaining a finger injury in the Boxing Day Test against England.
Since his return, Markram has scored 36 against the Dolphins and a blistering 103 against the Knights.
He also picked up 3/49 against the Dolphins and 2/39 against the Knights with his part time off spin, demonstrating his all-round capabilities.
“We know he’s a good cricketer, but as a batsman you have one chance, so if we can just get him early it will be really good for us, but if he gets going it will be entertaining for the fans but not good for us,” Marais said.
Marais himself will be targeting a big performance, having had an up and down season so far.
A strong showing against the Titans would set him up well for the final two games of the pool stage.
“There have been snippets in the season which have been good for me, but I would have liked to have done better,” Marais said.
“As a batsman you can never score enough runs, so hopefully I can squeeze in a few good performances in the last three games and help the team get to the semifinals.”
After the Titans match, the Warriors return to Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday where they welcome the Dolphins in what could be a competition-defining matchup.
The match gets under way at 1.30pm. —