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Van Wyk stands by bowlers

Durban - The Dolphins may have conceded over 300 runs in two of their three completed One Day Cup games and failed to defend 275 in the third, but captain Morné van Wyk is not overly concerned about the bowling department ahead of Friday’s fixture against the Highveld Lions at Senwes Park.

The Dolphins conceded 340 for six against the Titans in their opening game, almost allowed the Knights to chase a target of 367 in Bloemfontein, and lost on Sunday when the Warriors successfully chased a decent-looking target of 275.

However, Van Wyk says that while the numbers may not look pretty, it’s important to look at the context of last weekend’s games.

"I think Sunday was a bit different in that it wasn’t a great one-day wicket in the sense that the difference between batting first and second was just too big," he said.

"Whoever won the toss was going to have a pretty good chance of winning the game because in the morning it was seaming around and making indentations, and then after lunch it was a belter of a wicket.

"It’s not an excuse but we actually played pretty good cricket just to make a game of it.

"Then the game in Bloem I’d say the same - myself and Cameron (Delport) only had 28 or 29 after the first 10 overs because they were bowling well and there was a bit of movement, but as the game went on it greased up a bit and after dinner the wicket was very nice to bat on.

"The fact that they scored so freely wasn’t necessarily through a lack of good bowling."

The Lions have spent part of this week recovering from the four games that they played in eight days, but may be forced to change their side for the first time since they lost Quinton de Kock and Aaron Phangiso to the Proteas squad.

"Our only player who is a bit iffy at the moment is Hardus Viljoen - he took a blow on the hand when he was batting against the Cobras so we’ll need to assess him," said captain Stephen Cook.

"But if he doesn’t come through then we have Chris Morris, who is fully fit again, so it’s not like we’re short there."

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