The WSB Cape Cobras and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins will go head to head at Boland Park on Wednesday 11 January.
This will be the second time that the WSB Cape Cobras and Hollywoodbets Dolphins meet in the Momentum One Day Cup this season.
The KZN franchise won the first meeting on 21 December by 26-runs off the back of big scores from Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Dane Vilas. Will it be more of the same this time around or will the in-form Cobras bite back against Khaya Zondo and his men? Let’s take a look:
Cape Cobras vs Dolphins | Wednesday 11 January | Boland Park, Paarl | 13:30
To Win Match
Cape Cobras 63/100 | Tie 35/1 | Dolphins 27/20
WSB Cape Cobras
The Cape Cobras have bounced back superbly following their opening day defeat against Thursday’s opposition. They’ve won all three of their subsequent matches pretty comfortably, including an excellent four-wicket win over the Titans at SuperSport Park Centurion last week.
Ashwell Prince’s men followed the victory up with a stunning seven-wicket win over the Lions at the Wanderers two days later. Big scores from Pieter Malan and JP Duminy secured that victory. Duminy seems to be thriving following his retirement from Test cricket and Cobras fans will be hoping for more of the same against the Dolphins this weekend.
Looking ahead, the Cobras’ top order will need to dig deep once again in conditions that are likely to suit the Dolphins’ spin-heavy attack. Whether or not the likes of Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijma and Malan will be able to deal with the slower stuff remains to be seen.
Duminy, though, will be the man to hold things together in the middle and latter stages. If he can hang around and bat for 30+ overs, you can bet that the Cobras will be more than just competitive against a team that they’ve yet to beat in any format this season.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins
The big news coming out of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ camp is the return of Andile Phelukwayo to the squad. Andile will be eligible to play in this match before meeting up with the Proteas again before the second Test against India.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld still hasn’t recovered from a dislocated finger which means that Sarel Erwee will probably retain his place in the side. He really has struggled for form since that incredible century on the opening day of the Ram Slam T20.
He did battle away valiantly against the Warriors in tough batting conditions before being dismissed for a 51-ball 26. It might not be about the batting in Paarl, though. Imran Tahir was sensational on a turning wicket in the Eastern Cape and suspect conditions.
You feel that the other spinners will have big roles to play. Senuran Muthusamy and Prenelan Subrayen should crack the nod while Robbie Frylinck, Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phelukwayo and Attie Maposa will make up the seam portion of the attack.
Verdict: Hollywoodbets Dolphins 29/20
Big value on the Dolphins here who have yet to lose a match against the Cobras across all formats this season. Having said that, both teams are evenly matched but I think the KZN franchise’s spinners should get the job done!
