Knights still searching for Ram Slam win

Cape Town - Two weeks after making a fresh start under new coach, Nicky Boje, the Knights are confident that the changes will begin to yield results as they look to Wednesday’s Ram Slam T20 encounter with the Cape Cobras at the Diamond Oval.

While Boje is still waiting for his first win since taking over the reins, the Knights have only had two outings in that period, and will have the opportunity to move up the table this week as they play three home games in five days.

Boje’s bowling coach, Allan Donald, is currently in the United States with the Cricket All-Stars, but Knights captain, Werner Coetsee, has been impressed by his experience of both of the new coaches and is not placing too much weight on their results so far.

“I think the change has been very positive,” said Coetsee. “Nicky has a lot of cricket experience behind him, and Allan Donald has a lot of playing experience and a lot of coaching experience as well. Allan is used to coaching at the international level so the intensity in training in the week that he was here was very good.

“We’ve had a tough start to the campaign, but playing a tied six-over game and then walking into a Kevin Pietersen hundred off 40-odd balls has made it difficult for us. At this stage we can’t read too much into the results because they were two peculiar games. The atmosphere in the camp is still very positive at this stage.”

Wednesday’s game is a repeat of last year’s final, but both sides have made slow starts to the current campaign, with the Cobras stuck on four points after three games.

The Knights will be without Tumelo Bodibe, who is on compassionate leave, so 19-year-old off-spinner Tshepo Ntuli and batsman Aubrey Swanepoel will be part of the squad as the hosts look to balance the side.

The Cobras expect to welcome key all-rounder, Wayne Parnell, back from injury after he sat out Sunday’s defeat to the Titans with a finger injury.

The defending champions have had a topsy-turvy campaign so far, losing their opener, winning their second game and then losing their third.

“It’s been a little up and down so we’re hoping for some consistency to come through,” said coach, Paul Adams. “We get our pro (Kieron Pollard) back on Sunday so he’ll bolster us again.

“We probably leaked too many runs at some crucial stages against the Titans, so it’s important that we get some points on Wednesday. All in all it’s really up to the guys to make sure that they stay hungry in the field and execute their plans when they bowl.”