Titans hope for a dry night in Johannesburg to get result against Highveld Lions
The Titans, who have been disrupted twice in the CSA T20 series by rain, will hope the rain stays away when they face the Highveld Lions on Thursday night at the Wanderers.
The Highveld Lions assistant Wandile Gwavu admits that the Titans have hit form at the right time of the season but says the Johannesburg-based side do not fear their Jukskei rivals ahead of the CSA T20 Challenge derby at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
The two teams are second and third respectively heading into the game – the hosts currently holding the edge by two points.
In what has been a rain-hit start to the campaign, four of the opening 12 games have been no results – one for the Lions and two for the Titans.
It has kept things tight on the log standings, although the Cape Cobras did pull six points clear of the chasing pack when they beat the bottom-placed Knights on Tuesday.
Now the chasing pack will be hoping to stay in touch and Gwavu is hopeful they can do it against a Titans side he says they respect, but do not fear.
“Lions versus Titans is always a powerhouse game. We’ve had a look at them and they’re playing some exciting cricket at the moment. They also won the (Momentum) One-Day Cup and have a lot of confidence from that,” said Gwavu.
He admitted that the Titans’ batting looks strong, warning that his team will need to improve on their bowling to stand a chance.
“Their batting line-up is extremely powerful. We really want to get better with the ball, something that is a work in progress. Hopefully we can bring our A-game to the Wanderers,” Gwavu added.
The Lions have so far lost to the Cobras, but then beat the Dolphins and the Knights, before a washout versus the Warriors in the most recent game.
The Titans lost to the Eastern Cape side in their first game, but won against the Cobras ahead of back-to-back washouts.
Titans coach Mark Boucher was just worried whether they could get a game in Johannesburg after all the rain that has currently been following his side.
“It’s an important one, but I just hope we can get a game of cricket,” he said.
According to Boucher his team was really punished by the weather so far in the tournament.
“I think we’ve played very, very good cricket so far and we haven’t got many points to show for it. Hopefully that will change against the Lions,” said Boucher.
The Titans squad to play the Highveld Lions is: Matthew Arnold, Junior Dala, Theunis de Bruyn, Tony de Zorzi, Henry Davids, Donovan Ferreira, Eldred Hawken, Rubin Hermann, Gregory Mahlokwana, Tshepo Moreki, Farhaan Behardien (capt), Diego Rosier, Grant Thomson, Shaun von Berg.
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