The Hollywoodbets Dolphins jet off to the Western Cape ahead of a crucial Momentum One Day Cup clash with table toppers the WSB Cape Cobras on Wednesday at Eurolux Boland Park in Paarl, before consecutive games against the VKB Knights on Friday and Sunday with the news that Andile Phehlukwayo will be available for selection.
The all-rounder has been with the Proteas test squad for their first test of the Sunfoil Freedom Series against India – a test the Proteas won by 72 runs.
Phehlukwayo’s return will give the selectors a tough time in picking eleven players.
The Dolphins go into their clash on Wednesday having beaten their ‘bogey’ team the Warriors in Port Elizabeth last Friday, and after defeating the Cobras in their opening game of the campaign they will be confident heading to the Winelands.
Last season the men from Durban pulled off a memorable four wicket win in Paarl when Sibz Makhanya scored an unbeaten 55 from 38 balls to help his side chase down 271 with five balls to spare. The young middle order star and Kyle Nipper (32) added 57 for the seventh wicket from 26 balls to get their side over the line.
Despite beating the Cobras by 26 runs in their opening Momentum One Day Cup clash at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Grant Morgan believes that the Cape outfit is much improved.
“They are going to be a big threat for us on Wednesday,” Morgan expressed.
“They’ve been through their pain and they have been through the period where they came under some criticism.
“I think now they have found their best balance and we are going to have to be at our best to beat them.”
With two wins from three matches and a game in hand going into Wednesday’s clash, the Dolphins currently sit in third place on the Momentum One Day Cup log. The mood in Morgan’s camp is upbeat ahead of a defining week of the 50 over competition.
“The guys are helping each other out in training which I find is a very good sign – it is a sign of maturity in the group.
“This is probably the best space that we have been in since I have been involved and there is a high care factor amongst the players and a huge willingness to see eachother succeed,” the coach added.
Despite the absence of Vaughn van Jaarsveld, who hasn’t recovered from a dislocated finger, the Dolphins’ batting has been solid throughout the three matches with Cody Chetty registering a valuable half century in Port Elizabeth. With Chetty’s form as well as the form of the all-rounders, it puts the Dolphins in a strong position from a batting perspective.
“Our all-rounders like Rob (Frylinck), Calvin (Savage), Sen (Muthusamy) and Prenelan (Subrayen) have got to the stage now where they don’t allow, for example, their batting to suffer if they bowl well.
“They are too good and are now taking on true all-rounder status,” Morgan said confidently.
With the ongoing drought gripping the Western Cape, Morgan is expecting the pitch to be a dry one. This could play into the Dolphins’ hands with four spinners in the squad.
“We are expecting it to be a dry surface and we will be quite surprised if we get something different.
“With that said we have got cover in all areas so we are not worried about conditions,” he mentioned.
Having got two wins under the belt and a loss that came off the final ball, Morgan believes his team has a lot more to give in this competition.
“I don’t think that we have hit our straps yet.
“The challenge for us is to find our A-game because we have been hovering around a B-plus at the moment.”
Dane Vilas is a doubt for Wednesday as his wife Pippa is still expecting the birth of their child.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS SQUAD:
Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, Khaya Zondo, Cody Chetty, Sibonelo Makhanya, Calvin Savage, Robert Frylinck, Imran Tahir, Athi Maposa, Prenelan Subrayen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Okuhle Cele, Morne Van Wyk, Dane Vilas, Smangaliso Nhlebela.
