Coach Graham Ford says the Pretoria Capitals are determined to win their first match of the SA20 season when they face Durban’s Super Giants in Centurion on Thursday.

Last season’s finalists lost their first two matches of 2024, against the Paarl Royals, but Ford believes his team is still playing a positive brand of cricket that will hopefully translate into a victory over an unbeaten DSG team.

“We sure are looking for our first win,” said Ford. “It was very disappointing on Sunday night, but then when I watched the game again and looked at the quality of cricket that we played I was positive and upbeat. And I’d like to think the group is positive having analysed and looked at the game.

“We played a hell of a game of cricket, unfortunately we just came short. Often when you lose, because you have a loss against your name, you kind of think you’re playing bad cricket but I thought we played good cricket.

“Of course we want to try and do a little bit better than that so that we can go home with smiles on our faces. I think the guys are pretty determined and there’s belief within the group that we are a good team.

“The thing that I’m really grateful for is that we did entertain [the crowd] and as a group we quite often talk about wanting to play a good brand of cricket and I think we did.

“And probably when we were 4-2 chasing 210, there might have been an odd person thinking it’s time to go home but they got a lot of fun and entertainment. Likewise, they gave us a lot of support, encouragement and also energised our group.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl Royals (SA20)

The Capitals face a tough task against a DSG team that hit the ground running this season.

They certainly boast an in-form batting lineup, especially red-hot middle order batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who returns to his favourite venue in the country.

Klaasen struck a maiden SA20 century in Centurion in the corresponding fixture last season.

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Pretoria Capitals squad: Wayne Parnell (c), Matthew Boast, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell, Theunis de Bruyn, Daryn Dupavillon, Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Senuran Muthusamy, Jimmy Neesham, Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Paul Stirling, Tiaan van Vuuren, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen.

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: Arjun Singh/Sportzpics