MiWay T20 Challenge
Big hitters key to Pro20
2011-01-31 22:38
Johann de
Jager
Bloemfontein – In all
three of the matches played in the Pro20-series thus far, the winning runs have
been struck off the last delivery.
That means that teams
must have a big hitter lower down the batting order.
There are a number of
big hitters that can potentially be match-winners in Wednesday’s match between
the Knights and Dolphins at the Outsurance Oval.
The home team’s
allrounder Johan van der Wath showed for Canterbury in New Zealand in December,
that he has the ability to perform the task.
He was contracted by the
Bangalore Royal Challengers for the Indian Premier League following his New
Zealand sojourn.
Van der Wath is one of a
handful of allrounders that the Knights can use against the Dolphins. Ryan
McLaren, Dillon du Preez and Obus Pienaar can perform the same
roles.
The Dolphins have
several batsmen worth watching, with David Miller hitting the ball the hardest of them
all.
Any one of Loots Bosman,
Imraan Khan, Ahmed Amla, Devon Conway, Cameron Delport and Vaughn van Jaarsveld
can get the visitors out of the starting blocks quickly ... and then Miller lies
in wait.
Meanwhile, Titans big
hitter Albie Morkel has said that he expects to make his comeback at the
Wanderers against the Lions on Friday. He may well play only as a
batsman.
The Titans are under
pressure after losing the first two games.
Morkel tore his one
groin in the game against the Cape Cobras, which the home side won by 5 wickets at
Newlands on Friday.
He was injured in his
impressive unbeaten innings of 50 off just 25 balls, and could not bowl as a
result of the injury.
Morkel was also not in
action on Tuesday against the Warriors in East London, where the Titans came
unstuck against Mark Boucher. He was in destructive mood and struck an unbeaten
60 off 33 deliveries.
Morkel’s scan confirmed
that he suffered a grade 1 tear.
“I should be ready on
Friday, but maybe only as a batsman.”
The teams for Wednesday
are:
Knights (from): Dean
Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Bailey, Aubrey Swanepoel, Rilee Rossouw, Adrian
McLaren, Ryan McLaren (capt), Obus Pienaar, Johan van der Wath, Jandré Coetzee,
Victor Mpitsang, Dillon du Preez, Thandi Tshabalala, Shadley van
Schalkwyk.
Dolphins (from): Loots Bosman, Imraan Khan, Ahmed Amla, Vaughn
van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Devon Conway, Cameron Delport, Daryn Smit, Jon
Kent, Mthokozisi Shezi, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott.