Mark Boucher’s unbeaten Titans are in a ‘good mental space’ and are on course to defending their T20 Challenge title.

After four wins out of four, including two with bonus points, last year’s T20 champions sit top the table ahead of a weekend double against the Cape Cobras at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday, followed by the Knights in Kimberley on Sunday.

They are currently eight points clear of the Warriors in second place who have a game in hand, but Boucher strives for improvement from his players.

‘Last week was a very good week for us after we capitalised on all those back-to-back games,’ he said.

‘It was tough on the guys, but I thought they pulled through admirably.

‘The last game (against the Dolphins) was probably our most complete game of cricket in terms of batting, bowling and fielding that we’ve had. So mentally we’re in a very good space.’

Boucher, in his first season as a coach, is determined to avoid complacency.

‘I still think that there’s a long way to go in the competition and we need to continue playing the brand of cricket we are in order to stay where we are,’ he explained. ‘So we will continue working hard behind the scenes and make sure we keep our feet firmly on the ground knowing it’s a long tournament ahead still.’

‘So we will continue working hard behind the scenes and make sure we keep our feet firmly on the ground knowing it’s a long tournament ahead still.’

The Pretoria-based side have boosted their bowling ranks with the surprise loan of Dane Piedt from the Cobras and due to the great form of leg-break bowler Shaun von Berg, the Titans may opt to utilise both bowlers, as Piedt looks for a debut against his former side.

The Cobras, meanwhile, were left frustrated by the weather in their last match on Wednesday as rain forced their meeting with the Dolphins to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.

‘It was frustrating but we’ll continue with the same mindset as before and keep plugging away,’ coach Paul Adams said. ‘We’ll try and make sure the intensity is right up there.’

The Cobras, who will not be in action on Sunday, have been slowly picking up the pieces after a poor start to the season as a whole. Their win against the Warriors last Friday was the first across both the 20-over and four-day competitions this season.

‘They’ve been playing good cricket and that’s where the challenge is for us, to go to Pretoria, play good cricket, make sure we challenge them and look for the positive result to go our way,’ Adams added.

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