Cape Town - Kevin Pietersen is the undoubted star attraction for the Dolphins, but Cape Cobras coach Paul Adams believes his team must beware the rest of the top-order as well in Sunday’s T20 Challenge clash in Durban.
The former England captain hasn’t set the world alight as yet in the two games he’s played for the Dolphins so far, with 24 and 5. But that was between flying to and from Australia for commentary duties during the Proteas tour, and the big-hitting right-hander will be more settled now and is due a score.
And with the rain for once set to stay away from Kingsmead (2.30pm start), the 36-year-old will be looking to get stuck into the Cobras attack. But while Adams acknowledges the threat posed by Pietersen, he wants his bowlers to knock over Cameron Delport and Morné van Wyk cheaply as well.
The left-handed Delport provides the early impetus and has scores of 93 not out, 62 and 36 to his name this season, while Van Wyk’s best totals are 60, 56 and 41.
The likes of Rory Kleinveldt and Dane Paterson have been able to strike with the new ball, but will also need support from the rest of the attack.
Kieron Pollard has been up and down with the ball, and Wayne Parnell will hope to operate at full throttle following his recent return from a rib injury.
“The top three will be key for them. Delport has been their key player in getting them quick starts,” Adams told Independent Media from Durban on Saturday.
Asked if there is a special plan to keep Pietersen quiet, Adams said: “Just good discipline.”
The Cobras will have greater depth to their batting, with Dane Vilas returning from the Proteas tour to take over the gloves from Keegan Petersen and a top-order spot with the willow.
Vilas has the ability to push the singles and hit boundaries, and could combine well with kingpins such as Richard Levi, Parnell and captain Pollard.
Levi ended his lean run of late with a quick-fire 45 off 27 balls in the rain-affected clash against the Titans on November 25.
The Cobras have had an eight-day break between matches, but considering their poor start to the season, they have to win all four remaining games to have a chance of making the playoffs.
Ontong himself hopes to make a significant contribution to propel the Cobras to a sizable total. “I think in the past, I have been guilty of attempting the release shot too early in the innings. Farhaan Behardien is arguably the best T20 batsman in the country right now. He is batting at a strike-rate of 180 and collects the singles and twos at the infancy stage of his innings,” the right-hander told the Cobras website.
“And watch Kieron Pollard. He doesn’t allow too many dot balls, but takes the singles and can explode later into boundary action. I didn’t fare too well in the T20 format the past season-and-a-half, and I need to set the record straight.”
Likely Cape Cobras Team
Richard Levi, Wayne Parnell, Kieron Pollard (captain), Dane Vilas, Justin Ontong, Cebo Tshiki, Aviwe Mgijima, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Paterson, Beuran Hendricks, Nkululeko Serame.
@ashfakmohamed
Independent Media