Titans look to close the gap on the Cobras

HEINZ SCHENK

JOHANNESBURG - For a side brimming with depth and talent, the Titans will be absolutely desperate to catch up with the Cape Cobras when they take on the Highveld Lions in the penultimate round of SuperSport Series fixtures starting today.

Chris van Noordwyk’s charges have had – by their standards – a very mediocre season, having fallen out at both semifinal stages of the 40-overs competition and the Pro20.

In the four-day competition, they are currently in second position on the log with 79,08 points, 15 points behind the Capetonians.

Nothing less than an outright win will be desirable for them but they face a side that has become their nemesis over the past month.

Still, the hosts should have too much ammunition for the Pro20 runners-up, particularly in the bowling department.

On a Willowmoore Park pitch that usually takes spin, it’s likely the spin twins of Protea Paul Harris and Shaun von Berg together with seamers, Ethy Mbhalati and skipper Pierre Joubert may be employed.

The batting line-up of Jacques Rudolph, Faf du Plessis, Blake Snijman, Heino Kuhn and Farhaan Behardien looks formidable.

Likewise, the Lions (fourth) have decent stroke-makers as evidenced in the Pro20 plus the prolific Stephen Cook, who eclipsed the record for most first-class runs in a season, but the bowling remains a headache although the experienced Andre Nel and Craig Alexander are in the picture.

Yet the Titans’ efforts could prove largely academic if the Cobras, who already have five fingers clenched on the trophy, keep their heads.

Andrew Puttick’s men’s task is made easier by the fact that they play a youthful Dolphins side threadbare on experience at Newlands.

The Cobras welcome Dolphin discard Johann Louw to their ranks in a squad that is only missing regular captain Justin Kemp – who is playing in the Indian Premier League.

The Durbanites have seven new faces under skipper Imraan Khan and crucially miss Hashim Amla, who is battling with a finger niggle.

In Bloemfontein, the rampant Warriors (third) face struggling bottom-feeders the Eagles, who have apparently tabled grievances against coach Sarel Cilliers to the South African Cricketers Association although chief executive Tony Irish denied any correspondence.