Dolphins welcome back big guns for Rocks clash

Both Maharaj and Subrayen missed out on the trip to Gqeberha last week due to injury, but they have subsequently passed their fitness tests to be available for selection for the side’s first home match of the campaign.

Despite having the two spinners available for the clash, the Dolphins will be without seamer Ottniel Baartman who picked up a shoulder injury while fielding against the Warriors and will be side-lined for a few weeks.

The Dolphins have added seamer Thando Ntini to the squad as a replacement for the injured Bbartman while they will be happy to welcome back Ruan de Swardt to the squad after the talented all-rounder recovered from back surgery.

The Dolphins performed well in parts against the Warriors in their first match of the red ball season, assistant coach Mduduzi Mbatha feels they need to tighten up for longer periods in order to be successful.

“4-Day cricket is extremely hard because it’s four days of cricket and not just a session or one day so we felt that there were sessions that we let slip last week,” Mbatha said.

“We were supposed to be tighter in those periods and that ended up costing us the game, but we’ve learnt from those experiences and are going to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“There were good conversations had after the game about taking responsibility for the role you play in the team and putting the team first at all times.”

The Rocks went down to Western Province in the Western Cape derby last week and have lost both of their matches so far this season. Mbatha predicts that the side from the Winelands will come to Durban with a point to prove but the Dolphins need to concentrate on improving their own game.

“It’s going to be a very interesting contest but from our side it’s going to be important that we follow the processes that we have, and the template that we have come up with regarding trying to win at Kingsmead.

“Everyone knows what they have to do and how they fit into that template, and if we follow that blueprint, we will be successful.”

The Dolphins batting line-up didn’t fire in their opening match of the season and this week’s showdown gives them a chance to bounce back with Mbatha highlighting the areas they need to improve on.

“I think we could have been a little more disciplined with the bat and built an innings; we could hold on a little bit more despite the Warriors bowling well and asking the right questions.

“There’s a moment after you’ve absorbed the pressure from the bowling side that you transfer that pressure back to the opposition and when we tried to do that, we lost wickets.

“We need to look to bat for longer periods of time and control the innings and build partnerships,” Mbatha commented.

Bryce Parsons was unavailable due to a broken finger that will keep him out of action for four to six weeks, but he will serve as the twelfth man.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Gbets Rocks Squad:
Marques Ackerman (captain), Khaya Zondo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Odirile Modiamokane, Prenelan Subrayen, Ruan de Swardt, Sarel Erwee, Daryn Dupavillon, Thando Ntini, Grant Roelofsen, Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bryce Parsons