The Hollywoodbets Dolphins head into their final three round robin games in the 2017/18 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge with their future in the competition in their own hands, starting with a key clash with the bizhub Highveld Lions at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Wednesday night.
It’s been a tough campaign on a number of fronts for the Dolphins. They have lost out on four of their seven games due to bad weather as well as losing two at the back end of the final over and coach Grant Morgan believes his team can turn those situations into their favour.
“We dominate extended periods of the game and win a lot of the small battles within the game,” Morgan commented.
“But then we go and lose one of the big battles in the game when we can’t find that other run or other yard.
“I mean it’s all there otherwise we wouldn’t be taking games to the final ball or losing out by one run.
“We training well, everyone is happy and the care factor is high, we just need to touch up on those little bits.”
As the competition heads into the final furlong all the teams are in with a shout to qualify for the play-offs and Morgan is sticking to his guns and his approach to the rest of the competition.
“Look, nothing changes for us and we are sticking to our routines and preparing ball by ball.
“We will be going forward looking to win all three games coming up. For me it is key that the guys maintain their sense of happiness and we need to all look inward for that little bit extra that will make the difference,” he added.
The Dolphins have been in positions of power in the recent past and Morgan is confident that anything can happen to the teams above them.
“Last season we were leading in two of the competitions and managed to finish fourth so it can happen to any team.
“We need to find a way to get from fourth or fifth to first or second but technically we only need to get to fourth.
“We can do to the other teams what they did to us last season so the shoe is on the other foot. There is no need to panic and we just need to press on,” Morgan stressed.
Hat-trick hero from the match against the Warriors Rob Frylinck has been around the domestic cricket scene for many seasons and despite his personal achievement he wants to help his side be on the right side of those tight matches.
“Personal achievements are always nice but at the end of the day we as a team want to win cricket matches.
“We seem to be finding ways to not win matches and I don’t think that we applied ourselves with the bat at St George’s on a good wicket.
“It wasn’t good enough from us as a unit,” Frylinck added candidly.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins travel to Bloemfontein to take on the VKB Knights on Friday evening before finishing their round robin campaign against the Multiply Titans at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Sunday.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS SQUAD:
Sarel Erwee, Morne Van Wyk, Khaya Zondo (c), Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phehlukwayo, Rob Frylinck, Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Athi Maposa, Imran Tahir, Mthokozisi Shezi, Dane Vilas, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
For more information go to www.dolphinscricket.co.za
