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Botha vs Roelof in PE

Henk Steenkamp

Port Elizabeth – There will be a few interesting personal duels to keep an eye on in the SuperSport Series cricket match between the Warriors and Titans starting on Wednesday.

Not only will the players be out to get their respective teams in a winning position, but they will also want to catch the eye of the national selectors.

One of the direct duels that will stimulate interest at St George’s Park is the one between Johan Botha (Warriors) and Roelof van der Merwe (Titans), who the national selectors view as the country’s leading one-day spinners.

They have been doing the spin-bowling for the Proteas ODI side of late with JP Duminy, who has been used mostly as a batsman.

Paul Harris is the preferred spinner for the Tests, but Botha and Van der Merwe will be out to show that they should not be overlooked.

Intriguingly, both players also know how to use a bat, Botha being especially valuable to the Warriors cause as his team’s only batsman in the top 10 on the list of batting averages (60.50).

Regular Warriors captain, Davy Jacobs, has missed the last two games because of an injured thumb and will remain out of action. Botha will captain the side again in Jacobs’ absence.

Meanwhile, left-arm bowler Wayne Parnell has been released from the South African Test squad to play for the Warriors. His name has been added to the 12-man squad that beat the Dolphins in Durban at the weekend.
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