It's game day as the Warriors take on the BuildNat Cape Cobras in Sunfoil Series action at Buffalo Park over the next four days.
A cracking game is in store as a congested log and two teams still in the running are set to battle it out for supremacy and to claim full points from the match.
The Warriors head into the match off a rain affected draw against the Dolphins this past weekend and they will be hoping that the weather does not play a part in this match as well.
“Durban was frustrating for us with all the rain around. It seems to be a common trend when there’s fixtures in Durban,” said Warriors captain Simon Harmer.
“But East London has always treated us well. We often get incredible support at Buffalo Park so we are looking forward to the game.
“It is obviously a very important game against the Cobras. The way the results went last week the competition is still very open, so the boys are hungry and looking to make an impact.”
The home team will look to their senior players, Colin Ackermann and Basheer Walters to put in some top performances, with both leading the way on the charts.
Ackermann is the top run scorer in this year’s Sunfoil Series and he was again in great knick as he scored 81 runs in their only innings.
Walters and Harmer are the Warriors’ top wicket takers this season and with both tied seventh on the overall wicket taking column they will be looked at to make the breakthrough.
“I am happy where the guys are at. We have been working really hard and every game someone is putting their hand up and putting in a performance,” said Harmer.
For the Cobras, despite their impressive victory over the bizhub Highveld Lions this past weekend, the team are going through a transitional period after former coach Paul Adams was redeployed and assistant coach Ashwell Prince was elevated to the hot seat just a couple of weeks ago.
So with this being Prince’s second game as the main man in charge the team should still be coming to grips with his style.
A minor blow to the team also sees their last game hero Wayne Parnell, who took six wickets in the match and scored an unbeaten 103 in the second innings, called into the Proteas fold, and as such will be unavailable for the match.
“The Cobras are always a good team, but there is a lot that has gone on at the franchise and they are in a sort of rebuilding phase, and Wayne Parnell did well for them in the last match,” said Harmer.
“But we are under no illusions that it is going to be a tough match and we are making sure that we concentrate on our own disciplines so that we come out on top.”
A home coming of sorts will, however be on the cards for former Border all-rounder Aviwe Mgijima, with him firmly entrenched in the Cobras set-up. Coming off his second highest first class score of 73 this past weekend he will be aiming to impress on his return to East London.
The action gets under way at 10am today and all four days of cricket will be free entry to the ground and cricket fans have been reminded to come and support their teams.
Warriors squad: Colin Ackermann, Andrew Birch, Clyde Fortuin, Gionne Koopman, Simon Harmer (c), Edward Moore, Aya Gqamane, Sisanda Magala, Lesiba Ngoepe, Jerry Nqolo, Yaseen Vallie, Basheer Walters, Somila Seyibokwe
Cobras squad: Dane Piedt (c), Simon Khomari, Rory Kleinveldt, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Andrew Puttick, Kyle Simmonds, Jason Smith, Stiaan Van Zyl, Dane Vilas
Warriors hope rain not a factor in vital Cobras clash
A cracking game is in store as a congested log and two teams still in the running are set to battle it out for supremacy and to claim full points from the match.
The Warriors head into the match off a rain affected draw against the Dolphins this past weekend and they will be hoping that the weather does not play a part in this match as well.
“Durban was frustrating for us with all the rain around. It seems to be a common trend when there’s fixtures in Durban,” said Warriors captain Simon Harmer.
“But East London has always treated us well. We often get incredible support at Buffalo Park so we are looking forward to the game.
“It is obviously a very important game against the Cobras. The way the results went last week the competition is still very open, so the boys are hungry and looking to make an impact.”
The home team will look to their senior players, Colin Ackermann and Basheer Walters to put in some top performances, with both leading the way on the charts.
Ackermann is the top run scorer in this year’s Sunfoil Series and he was again in great knick as he scored 81 runs in their only innings.
Walters and Harmer are the Warriors’ top wicket takers this season and with both tied seventh on the overall wicket taking column they will be looked at to make the breakthrough.
“I am happy where the guys are at. We have been working really hard and every game someone is putting their hand up and putting in a performance,” said Harmer.
For the Cobras, despite their impressive victory over the bizhub Highveld Lions this past weekend, the team are going through a transitional period after former coach Paul Adams was redeployed and assistant coach Ashwell Prince was elevated to the hot seat just a couple of weeks ago.
So with this being Prince’s second game as the main man in charge the team should still be coming to grips with his style.
A minor blow to the team also sees their last game hero Wayne Parnell, who took six wickets in the match and scored an unbeaten 103 in the second innings, called into the Proteas fold, and as such will be unavailable for the match.
“The Cobras are always a good team, but there is a lot that has gone on at the franchise and they are in a sort of rebuilding phase, and Wayne Parnell did well for them in the last match,” said Harmer.
“But we are under no illusions that it is going to be a tough match and we are making sure that we concentrate on our own disciplines so that we come out on top.”
A home coming of sorts will, however be on the cards for former Border all-rounder Aviwe Mgijima, with him firmly entrenched in the Cobras set-up. Coming off his second highest first class score of 73 this past weekend he will be aiming to impress on his return to East London.
The action gets under way at 10am today and all four days of cricket will be free entry to the ground and cricket fans have been reminded to come and support their teams.
Warriors squad: Colin Ackermann, Andrew Birch, Clyde Fortuin, Gionne Koopman, Simon Harmer (c), Edward Moore, Aya Gqamane, Sisanda Magala, Lesiba Ngoepe, Jerry Nqolo, Yaseen Vallie, Basheer Walters, Somila Seyibokwe
Cobras squad: Dane Piedt (c), Simon Khomari, Rory Kleinveldt, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Andrew Puttick, Kyle Simmonds, Jason Smith, Stiaan Van Zyl, Dane Vilas
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos