The log-leading Paarl Royals will host second-placed Durban’s Super Giants in an intriguing clash of styles on Friday.
The hosts come into the match with five wins from six matches, with a settled bowling unit having been key to their success.
Meanwhile, DSG have gone for a unique approach of moving their star batsmen up-and-down the order – and it’s helped them to four wins from six matches.
Stand-in Royals captain Jos Buttler spoke about the impact the bowling unit have had after their come-from-behind victory against the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Wednesday.
“I think the clarity, especially with the ball,” he said when asked about the key to their success this season. “Shane Bond and Mandla [Mashimbyi] have been excellent in the way that they’ve worked with the bowling group and not just the bowlers but the whole team to understand the way they want the guys to bowl and what fields they want to set at certain times – so a very simple plan that the guys are sticking to and when you get results early on that breeds belief in what they’re talking about especially as well.”
When asked about the need to peak at the right time, in the playoffs, Buttler was happy to live in the present.
“Yes you do, but you don’t want to worry about that when you’re in our position. I’d rather be in this position than hoping we come good at some point. The boys have played really well and there’s lots of confidence in the group. The games keep coming thick and fast but hopefully we can ride this momentum.”
DSG, meanwhile, have had a whole week to settle in the Cape since getting the better of MI Cape Town at Newlands on Tuesday – after which their head coach, Lance Klusener, spoke about their batting plan this campaign.
“We’re blessed with people who can bat throughout the batting order. It’s just making sure that we we’re giving people the opportunity to bat when it best suits them. We’ve now got [Marcus] Stoinis, who can bat up in the powerplay, and has been finishing well for the Lucknow Super Giants as well too in the last IPL so we’re blessed with that but still we’re a little bit off finding a top batting performance.
“We’ve got a little bit of work to do there, but it was nice to see the fight [against MI Cape Town] and that’s what we’ve been challenging ourselves on – that it’s fine to have a talented team, but if you don’t fight you’re always going to come unstuck.”
While Matthew Breetzke, Jon-Jon Smuts, talisman Heinrich Klaasen, the now departed Nicholas Pooran and Wiaan Mulder have all made significant runs this season, Quinton de Kock has scored just 62 in six matches at an average of 10.33 and a strike rate of 105.08.
Klusener, however, insisted he is “not concerned” about De Kock’s lack of form.
“He’ll win us one or two big games. He’s got high standards so he’s a little bit frustrated with himself, but I think he’s keeping was outstanding [against MICT] even if he was unlucky with the bat. That just shows his spirit and his space.
“He’s going to win a couple of games for us, I’m pretty certain, going forward. Quinny’s pretty flexible, anywhere in the top [order], and we want to give people the best opportunity in positions they’re accustomed to.”
Klusener is looking forward to the challenge of a top-of-the-table clash on a Boland Park pitch that has been playing differently to Newlands.
“It’s a big leg for us, we’re trying to qualify [for the playoffs] on this leg and we’re off to a good start but Paarl is a tough place to go and play as well so we’re looking forward to that challenge. It’s always nice to go to Paarl with a little bit of momentum … but it is a tough place to go and play.”
This match will start at 5:30pm.
Paarl Royals squad: David Miller (c), Ferisco Adams, Fabian Allen, Jos Buttler, Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, Obed McCoy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jason Roy, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lorcan Tucker, John Turner, Mitchell van Buuren, Dane Vilas, Codi Yusuf.
Durban’s Super Giants squad: Keshav Maharaj (c), Noor Ahmad, Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Mayers, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq Murid, Bryce Parsons, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jon-Jon Smuts, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Prenelan Subrayen, Reece Topley.
Photo: Ron Gaunt/Sportzpics
