THERE is plenty at stake in tonight’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge eliminator semi-final cricket match between the Chevrolet Warriors and the Nashua Titans at Buffalo Park.
Not only will the winner oppose log-leaders, the Highveld Lions, on Sunday at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, but the team that wins tonight will automatically qualify to play in the lucrative Champions League T20 later in the year.
“We love playing in East London,” said Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs during a practice session at the Buffalo Park nets. “There’s a good, hard wicket here and the nets are good as well, so we usually have a great practice here.”
Should the Warriors advance, can they do well at the Wanderers? “The conditions are good there and our bowlers can do something special with the ball, and it’s the best place for batting,” he said, although emphasising that the franchise would take one match at a time.
Will the inclusion of Herschelle Gibbs for the Titans have an effect on the game? Jacobs admitted the former Proteas and Cape Cobras opening batsman could be the danger man with the bat as he has the capacity to destroy any bowling attack when on song.
“He’s a special player of course but everything depends on the day.”
The Warriors’ head coach Piet Botha is currently unable to speak having lost his voice, and assistant coach Adrian Birrell stepped in.
“The highlight of our sea son is definitely getting through to the T20 semi,” said Birrell.
“We deserve a place in the semi, we’ve played well, playing 10 matches and only losing three.
“Christiaan Jonker and Ashwell Prince have dominated, getting us off to good starts throughout. Jonker in particular has done well and is making a name for himself.
“We also have depth in both batting and bowling. I’ve done some stats and the Warriors are the top fielding side in the competition, so they build up pressure when we bowl.”
Will the fact that the Warriors win 80% of their games in East London have any say in the match?
“It’s an added advantage, yes, and mentally this is good for the team.”
Gibbs has plied his trade in the Australian Big Bash this summer where he represented the Perth Scorchers in the Australian Big Bash competition. Although he has not played any competitive cricket since mid-January, he is expected to get the Titans off to a fast start in their innings.
With so much rain falling in East London this past week, the pitch could play low and slow which would be an advantage to the Warriors as the Titans like the ball coming hard onto the bat.
So although the Titans appear to be the favourites, conditions could even things out and in the end be an advantage to the Warriors.
Bowlers like medium-pacer Aya Gqamane and fast bowlers Rusty Theron and Wayne Parnell could play a key role for the Warriors and all of them could prove deadly if the pitch plays low and slow.
Although showers are forecast for today, hopefully this will not affect the match.
A hard-fought match is on the cards and everything points to a sell-out crowd attending the game.
Spectators of course can expect plenty of action throughout the three hours’ duration.
A run out, a magnificent catch, a great spell of bowling, a quick 40 or 50 can all have a bearing on the result today.
Stakes high at the Park
Not only will the winner oppose log-leaders, the Highveld Lions, on Sunday at The Wanderers in Johannesburg, but the team that wins tonight will automatically qualify to play in the lucrative Champions League T20 later in the year.
“We love playing in East London,” said Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs during a practice session at the Buffalo Park nets. “There’s a good, hard wicket here and the nets are good as well, so we usually have a great practice here.”
Should the Warriors advance, can they do well at the Wanderers? “The conditions are good there and our bowlers can do something special with the ball, and it’s the best place for batting,” he said, although emphasising that the franchise would take one match at a time.
Will the inclusion of Herschelle Gibbs for the Titans have an effect on the game? Jacobs admitted the former Proteas and Cape Cobras opening batsman could be the danger man with the bat as he has the capacity to destroy any bowling attack when on song.
“He’s a special player of course but everything depends on the day.”
The Warriors’ head coach Piet Botha is currently unable to speak having lost his voice, and assistant coach Adrian Birrell stepped in.
“The highlight of our sea son is definitely getting through to the T20 semi,” said Birrell.
“We deserve a place in the semi, we’ve played well, playing 10 matches and only losing three.
“Christiaan Jonker and Ashwell Prince have dominated, getting us off to good starts throughout. Jonker in particular has done well and is making a name for himself.
“We also have depth in both batting and bowling. I’ve done some stats and the Warriors are the top fielding side in the competition, so they build up pressure when we bowl.”
Will the fact that the Warriors win 80% of their games in East London have any say in the match?
“It’s an added advantage, yes, and mentally this is good for the team.”
Gibbs has plied his trade in the Australian Big Bash this summer where he represented the Perth Scorchers in the Australian Big Bash competition. Although he has not played any competitive cricket since mid-January, he is expected to get the Titans off to a fast start in their innings.
With so much rain falling in East London this past week, the pitch could play low and slow which would be an advantage to the Warriors as the Titans like the ball coming hard onto the bat.
So although the Titans appear to be the favourites, conditions could even things out and in the end be an advantage to the Warriors.
Bowlers like medium-pacer Aya Gqamane and fast bowlers Rusty Theron and Wayne Parnell could play a key role for the Warriors and all of them could prove deadly if the pitch plays low and slow.
Although showers are forecast for today, hopefully this will not affect the match.
A hard-fought match is on the cards and everything points to a sell-out crowd attending the game.
Spectators of course can expect plenty of action throughout the three hours’ duration.
A run out, a magnificent catch, a great spell of bowling, a quick 40 or 50 can all have a bearing on the result today.
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