This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
AFTER a frustrating start to the Sunfoil Series that saw the Chevrolet Warriors draw three of their first four games, coach Piet Botha is banking on a reversal of the usual season trends to boost his side up the table.
Despite coming up against some flat pitches and bad weather in November and December, the fourth-placed Warriors are still just three points off top spot and very much in contention as they head to Sahara Stadium Kingsmead to take on the Sunfoil Dolphins from Thursday 13 February.
While conventional wisdom says that pitches generally get flatter in the second half of the season, Botha has a suspicion that things might be the other way around this term.
“Down the years the pitches have generally been flatter towards the end of the season, but you’ll probably find that in the final stages of the competition it will be the case where conditions are a little more conducive to results,” he said. “Certainly this weekend I’m expecting something with grass on it.”
Botha is particularly pleased that, when his team have encountered batsman-friendly conditions, his batters have cashed in - the Warriors’ lowest first-innings score this season is 398.
Ayabulela Gqamane has sustained a stress fracture to his back and will be out for the foreseeable future, but otherwise Botha has a full squad to pick from.
The challenge for the Dolphins after their RAM SLAM T20 heroics is to get their feet back on the ground in a short space of time.
Lance Klusener’s side only landed back in Durban on Monday afternoon, giving them two days to prepare for Thursday’s clash.
“It is a quick turnaround for us but we’re fortunate that we’re able to freshen up the squad and bring in some of our four-day specialists,” said Klusener.
“Graham Onions has gone back to England because he’s been picked for the England Lions, but otherwise we have a full squad to pick from.”
HEAD TO HEAD – Sunfoil Dolphins vs. Chevrolet Warriors
MATCH STATS (SUNFOIL SERIES) SUNFOIL DOLPHINS CHEVROLET WARRIORS
Highest Score 512/7* (East London 2005/2006) 500/4* (Pietermaritzburg 2007/2008)
Lowest Score 123 (Port Elizabeth 2008/2009) 92 (Durban 2012/2013)
Highest Individual Score 209* Doug Watson (Durban 2006/2007) 218* Arno Jacobs (Pietermaritzburg 2007/2008)
Best bowling in a match 12/216 Imran Tahir (Port Elizabeth 2010/2011) 11/97 Mario Olivier (Port Elizabeth 2008/2009)
