Cricket purists will be champing at the bit as the final leg of the 2015-16 Sunfoil Series gets back under way this week, with the Eastern Cape’s premier team the Warriors in action at 10am at Buffalo Park tomorrow.
It is the business end of the season for the Warriors with just five games left and this match against the Dolphins will be the last match at Buffalo Park this season with two away matches and two games at St George’s Park to follow.
The Warriors begin the final stretch rock bottom of the Sunfoil Series log, having picked up four losses and had their last game against the Dolphins abandoned without a ball being bowled, in their opening five matches and they trail the log leading Titans by 46 points and the second from bottom Cobras by 16 points.
The Warriors have had an up and down season, playing decently in the shorter formats, where they finished fourth in the Ram Slam T20, just missing out on the playoffs, and third in the Momentum One-Day Cup, losing in the playoff to eventual champions the Lions.
However they have been found wanting in the longer format and this will be a testing period for coach Malibongwe Maketa and his charges as they look to end their season on a high.
“But we have not played well in the Sunfoil Series so far and we need to get straight back into it as soon as possible.
“We believe we are way better than our current position indicates.
“It is also an exciting time for the younger players and fringe players as I will be looking to give them an opportunity over the last few matches.”
As for the Dolphins they will be looking to improve on their current log- standing of fourth and also get over turbulence caused by the sudden recent sacking of coach Lance Klusener, which will still be felt by the team.
This will thus be the first test for interim coaches Yashin Ebrahim and Roger Telemachus, who have taken over coaching duties with immediate effect.
“The Dolphins are a mature, professional team and I expect them to be up for the game,” said Maketa.
“Games between the Warriors and Dolphins have always been close and I expect no less this time round.”
Warriors to gaff the Dolphins
It is the business end of the season for the Warriors with just five games left and this match against the Dolphins will be the last match at Buffalo Park this season with two away matches and two games at St George’s Park to follow.
The Warriors begin the final stretch rock bottom of the Sunfoil Series log, having picked up four losses and had their last game against the Dolphins abandoned without a ball being bowled, in their opening five matches and they trail the log leading Titans by 46 points and the second from bottom Cobras by 16 points.
The Warriors have had an up and down season, playing decently in the shorter formats, where they finished fourth in the Ram Slam T20, just missing out on the playoffs, and third in the Momentum One-Day Cup, losing in the playoff to eventual champions the Lions.
However they have been found wanting in the longer format and this will be a testing period for coach Malibongwe Maketa and his charges as they look to end their season on a high.
“But we have not played well in the Sunfoil Series so far and we need to get straight back into it as soon as possible.
“We believe we are way better than our current position indicates.
“It is also an exciting time for the younger players and fringe players as I will be looking to give them an opportunity over the last few matches.”
As for the Dolphins they will be looking to improve on their current log- standing of fourth and also get over turbulence caused by the sudden recent sacking of coach Lance Klusener, which will still be felt by the team.
This will thus be the first test for interim coaches Yashin Ebrahim and Roger Telemachus, who have taken over coaching duties with immediate effect.
“The Dolphins are a mature, professional team and I expect them to be up for the game,” said Maketa.
“Games between the Warriors and Dolphins have always been close and I expect no less this time round.”
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