Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The Highveld Lions will be looking to build on their recent good form when they host the struggling Cape Cobras in their latest Momentum One-Day Cup assignment at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The hosts and defending champions are in fine form having won their last two matches, against the same opponents last Friday, and against the Knights on Sunday.
The Cape side have since gone on to lose their second successive game when they were beaten by the log-leading Dolphins in Paarl on Wednesday night.
They will be desperate for points and Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana is wary of the threat they will pose in the North West.
“The Cobras are a quality, quality side,” he said. “I mean if you look at the names in their team, there some top, top players. There’s no doubt they will be tough to beat.
“But we’ve just got to stick to the basics and focus on executing our skills, hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”
Toyana, meanwhile, is trying to get his players in the right mental frame for the clash, especially after their recent good performances.
“We go into the game on the back of two wins, but we know we just can’t take anything for granted in this competition,” he explained. “We’ll work hard to avoid any complacency.”
The Lions boss also knows that they are now entering the business end of the 50-over competition.
“Our preparation has gone well so far and we are at home, where we love playing and we have to win this game,” he added. “That’s what we need to do.
“I think from here on, we can’t afford too many slip-ups. If you watched the game last night, you would have seen that both teams played well. It just showed how strong teams are. So we can’t take anything for granted.”
Dwaine Pretorius has returned from Proteas duty and is set to play.
For the Cobras, the match is one of two in what could be a decisive weekend for them in the competition. Ashwell Prince’s men are bottom of the standings and trail the top-placed Dolphins by 10 points with four games to play.
