The ten-day-long CSA T20 Challenge beginning at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium this Friday is going to be another exciting test for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins who start their campaign against the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras on Friday afternoon.
The Dolphins are coming off sharing the recent Momentum One Day Cup and return to conditions that are familiar to them for the T20 Challenge.
With the competition being a single round robin heading straight into a play-off, with the side top of the log qualifying straight into the final, coach Imraan Khan knows how important their start will be.
“The nature of these tournaments with only one round of group matches means it’s very important that we start well,” Khan said. “We did that in the One Day Cup and hopefully we can do that again in this competition.
“It’s pretty much knock-out cricket from the get-go really so hopefully we can put in some good performances up front.”
The Durban-based side has named a strong squad for the upcoming tournament that includes the likes of Proteas David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo and spinner Keshav Maharaj, who will captain the team. With such a strong group to pick from Khan knows that picking his eleven is going to be difficult.
“It’s always difficult to pick an eleven in any format of the game but I think that’s a good position to be in. We have some nice options and guys are in a good space and hopefully we can start well in the T20.”
The Dolphins side for the first game against the Cobras on Friday is not set in stone yet and the players and staff will need to have a good look at the Kingsmead surface before they make any decisions on their eleven.
“We’ll have to go and have a look at the conditions when we get there and Wednesday’s practice is going to be our first practice at Kingsmead in a very long time because of the Protea women’s bubble.
“The nice thing is that in the way the squad is lined up we have bowling options in the top six as well so that definitely adds to the balance of the side.”
Despite being away from home during the women’s bio-bubble and then for the Momentum One Day Cup, Khan still believes that his side will have an advantage in their home conditions heading into the tournament.
“I don’t think playing at home adds more pressure, it’s just more of an advantage for us,” he explained. “Knowing the conditions is important and it might be a little different to what we are used to but heading deeper into the competition the surface should get a little drier and slower.
“It helps that we train and play there so we know how the ball will react and hopefully it will give us a little bit of an edge.”
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins will play the second match of the competition on Friday, 19 February against the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras.
