Dolphins, Warriors looking for respite from rain
The Sunfoil Dolphins host the Chevrolet Warriors at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Thursday in the penultimate round of the Sunfoil Series and both camps are looking nervously at the weather forecast.
"It doesn't look too promising, and I guess we may have to take a bit of a gamble to force a result," a bullish home coach Lance Klusener said. "We obviously can't win the competition, but we are coming off a good win over the Cobras, and our challenge is to back up that performance with another one this week," the Dolphins coach said.
"We have had some improvement, and I am trying to instil a culture where losing isn’t an option. In the past, I guess we sometimes accepted a loss, as long as it wasn't too bad. But I really want the team to buy into a winning culture going forward."
One player who has stood out for the Dolphins this term is Kyle Abbott, the leading wicket-taker in the competition, after his eight-wicket burst to win the match at Sahara Park Newlands. "Kyle has been fantastic for us, and that's why he is the leading wicket-taker. I asked the bowlers to step up, and he has definitely done that," Klusener enthused.
"He bowls his overs, in the sense that he is not shy of hard work. Now we need the rest of the bowling unit to consistently back him up and then we will really be in business."
Warriors skipper Davy Jacobs has also seen Abbott at close quarters, and admits that he will be a handful. "He has been a great performer for them for a number of years, and he has really kicked on this season. He had another big performance for the invitation side against Pakistan this week, and he will definitely be a threat."
Jacobs's own team had an eight-wicket hero of their own against the Chevrolet Knights in their last outing in Andrew Birch, as the men from the Eastern Cape secured a ten-wicket win that Jacobs was especially chuffed with.
"I am really happy with our four-day cricket this season, and the win against the Knights was another great team performance. Birchy obviously bowled really well, and we just want to finish the season on a high note."
Jacobs, whose side will face the pace-setting bizhub Highveld Lions in their final fixture, said he hoped to get in a decent game in Durban.
"I spoke to Kyle when we were in East London, and he said it doesn't look too promising, weather-wise. That is something we can't really control, but it would be great if we can get a game in."
Play at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead starts at 9am on Thursday.
