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Cape Town - Dolphins coach Grant Morgan is not willing to accept mediocrity from his team and is plotting a strong reaction when they host the bizhub Highveld Lions in their second T20 Challenge match at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Wednesday.
The Durbanites suffered an embarrassing seven-wicket home mauling at the hands of the Warriors on Sunday in what was a poor start to the campaign.
Morgan and his charges have been reflecting on that loss with the hope of a far better showing against their Johannesburg-based counterparts. “We were far from our best on Sunday, everyone realises that,” the coach said. “It wasn't the intention obviously, but it still wasn't good enough.
“We didn't give the KwaZulu-Natal public any energy on Sunday; we didn't excite anyone either in the ground or in front of their television sets, and that's not good enough.
“We're not going to panic but we're also not going to accept mediocrity. We're a hungry team.”
Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana conceded it was not the best of starts for his side after they fell to a bonus-point loss at the hands of the Multiply Titans in the Jukskei derby over the weekend. “It was quite disappointing on Saturday night,” he explained. “We didn’t play good cricket and were outplayed in all three departments…batting, bowling and fielding. But we’ve chatted as a squad and realised we were not good enough.”
And he expects both sides to go for it as they try to keep pace with the teams that did win their opening assignments. “It’s key that we bounce back against the Dolphins, who will be keen to win themselves after also losing their first game,” Toyana added. “They are at home, so it will be tough, but we’ll go all out to try and get our season going.”
Reeza Hendricks is out for two to three weeks due to injury, with Devon Conway likely to replace him.
Dolphins squad: Craig Alexander, Cody Chetty, Cameron Delport, Rabian Engelbrecht, Robbie Frylinck, Kyle Nipper, Morne van Wyk (captain), Andile Phehlukwayo, Prenelan Subrayen, Mthokozisi Shezi, Imran Tahir, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Khaya Zondo.
Lions squad: Devon Conway, Rassie van der Dussen, Nicky van den Bergh, Eddie Leie, Bjorn Fortuin, Nono Pongolo, Aaron Phangiso (captain), Hardus Viljoen, Dominic Hendricks, Mangaliso Mosehle, Wiaan Mulder, Matt McGillivray.
