Cape Town – The T20 Challenge enters its final round of fixtures. Due to the washout between the Warriors and Cape Cobras at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth and the Knights getting over the line on the last ball against the Highveld Lions on Friday evening, all scenarios have played out perfectly to set up “Shoot-out Sunday”.
We've profiled the three clashes around the country and what impact it will have on the playoffs.
Warriors (29 points) vs Titans (29 points)
Buffalo Park, East London at 2:30pm
The top-of-table match-up has the Titans heading down to East London to face an in-form Warriors team. Both teams are locked on 29 points after nine matches, although the home side sit at the summit of the log due to a superior net run-rate of +1.094 compared to the visitors +0.958.
On paper the Titans are the favourites with a squad overloaded with Proteas stars. The Hennops River side will not be able rely on national Test and ODI captain AB de Villiers, who will miss the match at Buffalo Park with an elbow injury.
Besides De Villiers, there is still talent in abundance all through the Titans line-up. National team spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has already been drafted into the line-up and added a further cutting edge to a bowling attack spearheaded by Junior Dala, Malusi Siboto, Lungi Ngidi and all-rounders David Wiese and captain Albie Morkel.
The batting unit is arguably also the strongest in the country even without the supernatural talents of Quinton de Kock with a couple of youngsters Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen supporting the evergreen talents of Farhaan Behardien, Heino Kuhn and Jonathan Vandiar.
There is such an overflow of talent at SuperSport Park that coach Mark Boucher has allowed powerful left-hander Qaasim Adams to go on loan at the business end of the season.
In a twist of fate, Adams will line-up against his official employers on Sunday having transferred to the Warriors. Adams certainly adds some meat to a Warriors team that revel in the underdog role. The Eastern Cape side enjoys the scrap with a host of seasoned franchise players like Colin Ingram and Andrew Birch leading the fight with bat and ball respectively. They are also well led by their in-form captain Jon Jon Smuts who must be nearing higher recognition in the shorter formats after blazing a century two matches ago.
Big games also require big players to step up and coach Malibongwe Maketa needs to find a place in his line-up for Proteas opening bowler Kyle Abbott after the Aussie destroyer sat on the sidelines the last couple of matches.
Although both teams have qualified for the playoffs already, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at stake is automatic qualification for the final with the opportunity to host the T20 Challenge showpiece.
Cape Cobras (19 points) vs Highveld Lions (16 points)
Boland Park, Paarl at 2:30pm
After a miserable start to the season the Cobras have suddenly hit form and appear to peaking at just the right time with a batting unit firing in conjunction with the return of a couple of Proteas stars in JP Duminy and Hashim Amla.
Most importantly, the change room also seems to be in a much better place with the players responding to captain Kieron Pollard’s leadership style. Explosive opener Richard Levi has particularly benefitted with the right-hander back to his bullocking best.
The all-round talents of Wayne Parnell and Pollard have also played an integral part in the resurgence of the Cobras with both internationals showing their experience in the shortest format, especially in regards to their game awareness.
Young spinner George Linde has also been impressive in the middle overs and will once again to look to contain the Lions during this important phase of the game.
The Cobras are in the pound seats to reach the playoffs, leading the Lions by three points but are well aware defeat in the winelands will see them ousted at the post. Three complete washouts have not helped their cause.
In contrast, the Lions will be kicking themselves for the position they find themselves in. Two consecutive defeats, including a last-ball loss to bottom-of-the-log Knights on Friday, has left Geoff Toyana’s team fighting for survival in the T20 Challenge.
Victory on Sunday over the Cobras will see the Wanderers-based side sneak into the playoffs. Their charge will undoubtedly have to be led by the dangerous Rassie van der Dussen. The Lions opener is one of the cleanest hitters of the white ball in the country and will once again look to get his side off to a flying start. He will not, however, be able to do this all on his own and needs support from especially his opening partner Reeza Hendricks.
With the ball, it will be up to captain Aaron Phangiso to lead the way as he hopes to strangle the dangerous Cobras batting line-up on a Paarl surface that has traditionally been conducive to spin.
Dolphins (15 points) vs Knights (9 points)
Kingsmead, Durban at 2:30pm
With both teams unable to qualify for the playoffs there will not be much interest in the tie except for a last possible opportunity to watch former England batsman Kevin Pietersen in action for his original province.