The Cape Cobras need the batsmen to come to the party in their semi-final against the Dolphins in Durban on Thursday.
The Dolphins come into the game relatively untested as rainy weather forced them to sit out five matches. But when they got their chances, they took them: beating the Cobras on a Duckworth/Lewis calculation after scoring 231-2; beating the Knights by six wickets; and then demolishing the runaway log leaders, the Titans, by 89 runs in Durban.
The Cobras seem to be a work-in-progress, they surged to the semi-finals with five wins in six matches, before being halted by the Warriors, which cost them home advantage in the semi-final.
‘Our bowling effort the past competitions has been in the 90% bracket, although we gave the Warriors about 10 to 15 runs too many,’ said coach Ashwell Prince.
‘But it is the batting department in which we require an improvement. We require the support staff to Hashim Amla and JP Duminy to score heavily.’
Duminy has struck 356 runs at an average of 39.55 and a strike-rate of 136.39, while Amla has hammered 332 at 36.88 and a strike-rate of just over 136. They struck six half-centuries for the Cape Cobras in the summer’s T20 competition. The other 50 was a match-winning 52 from GF Linde.
Assistant coach Faiek Davids believes the Cobras would offer a score in excess of 200 if the batting lineup played to their potential.
In reference to the likes of Richard Levi, Temba Bavuma and the No 5 batsman, Davids said: ‘If they support Hash and JP, I believe we possess the firepower to score 200 or more in the semi-final and in a final.’
The Dolphins’ assistant coach, Imraan Khan, says his team is ready for the challenge.
‘We were thrown challenges at different stages of both games and the team dealt with those well so the confidence is quite high.’
The Dolphins chased down an imposing 168 in 17 overs on Friday thanks largely to an unbeaten 70 from Morné van Wyk. The Titans were the next side in the firing line as the men from the East Coast defeated the table toppers by a bonus point 89 run margin.
Dolphins squad: Sarel Erwee, Morne Van Wyk, Khaya Zondo (c), Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phehlukwayo, Rob Frylinck, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Athi Maposa, Imran Tahir, Mthokozisi Shezi, Dane Vilas, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
Cape Cobras squad: JP Duminy (c), Ferisco Adams, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Rory Kleinveldt, Carlos Koyana (wk), Richard Levi, George Linde, Aviwe Mgijima, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
