Pooran: All about execution for Super Giants in SA20 opener
NICHOLAS Pooran has joined Durban’s Super Giants for the second edition of the SA20, and their campaign gets under way today at Kingsmead (5.30pm start) where they take on MI Cape Town.
Having played and succeeded all over the world, Pooran wants to continue doing what he does best.
“I just want to continue what I’ve been doing over the last couple of years, which is being consistent in putting in match-winning performances and trying to help my teammates to be successful as well,” he said.
The visiting MI Cape Town squad is a scary combination, on paper.
However, as we saw last season, with MI Cape Town finishing at the bottom of the table, games of cricket are not won on paper.
Pooran stressed that the principles of cricket seldom change, and that it is always bat versus ball and never superstar versus rising player. “The game is played on its day, regardless of who they have on their team. We have a really good line-up as well, a lot of skilful players,” said Pooran.
“(Today) is about execution, bat versus ball, as simple as that. Whoever can hold their nerves as long as possible has a better chance of winning. We’re ready, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Moreover, Pooran spoke about how leagues such as the SA20 push West Indies players and provide the platform to restore West Indies cricket to its former glory, having had a disappointing past couple of years. With a number of players from the Caribbean spread across the six SA20 teams, Pooran is confident that they will grow from strength to strength.
“The last couple of years have been disappointing, and because it’s a new year, it’s a new opportunity for all of us,” the left-hander said.
“I’m really happy and thankful to the leagues like the SA20: it gives us West Indian players another opportunity to get better and to feed off international superstars, and get an opportunity to learn – and I think that’s key for us.
“We have a lot of players in this competition, so it’s wonderful to have that opportunity, so hopefully we can take that in a positive way.
“Durban is similar to home. It’s beautiful, it’s been really welcoming so far, and the conditions here are lovely. Quinny (de Kock) keeps talking about how beautiful the wicket is to bat on, and the guys keep talking about the Durban crowd.
“I’m really excited to see the fans come out to support us, and hopefully we can put on a wonderful show for them.”
Durban’s Super Giants: Matthew Breetzke, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jason Smith, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Bryce Parsons, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Junior Dala, Naveen-ul-Haq, Reece Topley.
MI Cape Town: Kieron Pollard,
Tom Banton, Chris Benjamin, Conor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Ryan Rickleton, Grant Roelofsen, Rassie van der Dussen, Rashid Khan, Dewald Brevis, Sam Curran, Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Liam Livingstone, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Olly Stone, Nuwan Thushara, Nealan van Heerden.*
FIVE-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah posted his first win of this year’s Dakar Rally yesterday, clocking the quickest time in the Empty Quarter dunes between Al-Hofuf and Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia.
The 53-year-old Qatari, driving for Prodrive, finished 1min:51sec ahead of Toyota’s Guerlain Chicherit to claim his 48th stage win in the Dakar. “There was no strategy on my part,” said Al-Attiyah who will now have to open the road at the start of the ‘48H chrono’, a new two-day stage across today and tomorrow.
“I wanted to win the stage, no matter what they have in store for us tomorrow. It’s 600km long, and I don’t mind opening the road. Even if I lose time, what matters to me is finishing these 600km.”
Sebastien Loeb (Prodrive) tried his luck by deliberately missing a compulsory checkpoint, a “mistake” that cost him a 15-minute penalty.
As a result, he finished 21:13 down the order, giving up time in the overall standings in the hope of optimising his chances in the ‘48H Chrono’ by starting from behind.
“Nasser and I are following different strategies,” said Loeb.
Ross Branch reclaimed the lead in the bikes category after Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla dominated the dunes to win Stage 5.
On a short 118km special stage, Quintanilla was pushed all the way as he completed his seventh Dakar stage win, beating his Honda teammate