Dolphins pressing for 4-Day final
The final round of the 2020/21 CSA 4-Day Domestic Series begins on Tuesday with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins looking to qualify for the competition final when they meet the Warriors at St Georges Park.
The Dolphins sit on the coat-tail of the VKB Knights who lead Pool A heading into the final round this week. Assistant coach of the Dolphins Quinton Friend knows that the side need to try and put together the perfect match to maximise their points.
“When we get on the field we are going to have to make sure that we make an impact immediately,” Friend said. “That’s because bonus points are going to be crucial in this match so we have to make sure we put up ours hands from both a batting and bowling perspective.
“If we play good cricket over the four days we will get the result and if we do that then we put ourselves in with a good chance of getting into that final.”
Given the current permutations there will be a keen focus on how things unfold both at St George’s Park and at Six Gun Grills Newlands where the Knights and the Cobras will face off.
Although the points are going to be crucial, Friend wants the side to continue focusing on what they have been doing well rather than the competition log.
“Our focus has been on our specific skills and that’s where you have to drive your energy so it’s important that we continue to focus on that.
“We’ve made sure that we have covered all our bases going into this match with the Warriors and it’s important that we carry on playing good cricket for one more game in the group stage of the competition.”
The Dolphins have made just one change to their squad from last week in Johannesburg with Andile Mogakane coming into the set-up and Grant Roelofsen being left out.
With such a wealth of talent amongst the squad Friend believes that they will head down to Qhebera with a side for all conditions.
“We are prepared for a wicket that might have a bit of grass on it as we go there with three good seamers and we obviously have Keshav (Maharaj).
“There won’t be much different from the side that played at the Wanderers last week and we have been very fortunate to have the all-rounders that we do have.
“To have a guy like Eathan Bosch coming into the side and getting a brilliant hundred and then Keshav making 80 batting at number eight it’s invaluable for a side and shows our squad depth.”
Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Warriors squad:
Sarel Erwee, Eathan Bosch, Ruan de Swardt, Keegan Petersen, Andile Mogakane, Marques Ackerman, Khaya Zondo, Mangaliso Mosehle, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Daryn Dupavillon, Kerwin Mungroo, Lifa Ntanzi.
