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Durban - The Dolphins welcome global T20 batting sensation Kevin Pietersen and Proteas spinner and lower order batsman Keshav Maharaj back to their ranks for Wednesday, November 30’s T20 Challenge match against the Titans at Kingsmead.
With South Africa’s Test tour of Australia now over, left-arm orthodox Maharaj adds great depth to the Dolphins’ batting and bowling stocks alike while Pietersen - who has already played one match for the KZN outfit, against the Titans in Bloemfontein - too returns having completed his television commentary stint in Australia.
“A player like Kevin speaks for himself; he is simply world class,” says Dolphins head coach, Grant Morgan.
"“Keshav - even more so now having played at international level - is one of our more experienced players and adds a tremendous amount of value to our unit.
“Obviously with him coming back from Australia, we’ll be in contact with him and assess how he’s feeling once he lands and if he’s felling okay then he’ll play so he has been selected in our broader squad,” he adds.
After their recent four-match road trip, the Dolphins return to their home turf eager to produce a strong showing against the log-leading Multiply Titans and keep their playoff hopes alive.
With 11 points currently to their name and in third place on the log after their six matches, the Dolphins trail the Titans and Warriors by 13 and three points respectively while they also narrowly lead both the Highveld Lions and Cape Cobras by three points.
The Dolphins, weary of the fact that the Lions and the Warriors have a game and two games in hand respectively, will be keen to give themselves some breathing space courtesy of a positive result in their midweek Durban assignment.
“The Titans game is massive for us, but then again every game is a big game,” says Morgan.
“We want that pressure though because if there is pressure, then that means that people expect us to do well, which is exactly what we want.
“We’ve played one or two poor games so far, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ve also played some brilliant cricket too. The belief is still very much there amongst the squad that if we can perform at 100% across all three disciplines – which we haven’t done yet in this competition - then we can compete with any team.”
Fans can purchase their tickets from the Kingsmead ticket office or online via www.ticketpro.co.za from R30. Gates open at 17:00 with play getting underway at 18:00.
Dolphins squad:
Morné van Wyk (captain), Cody Chetty, Cameron Delport, Rabian Engelbrecht, Robbie Frylinck, Mbasa Gqadushe, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Nipper, Kevin Pietersen, Mthokozisi Shezi, Prenelan Subrayen, Imran Tahir, Khaya Zondo
