Another crucial MODC weekend for Dolphins
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins are hunting the top spot of the Momentum One Day Cup log ahead of a crucial weekend of fixtures starting with a showdown with the Warriors at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday.
Wins for the Multiply Titans and the WSB Cape Cobras mid-week has meant that
the Durban-based outfit are in third place on the log with a game in hand as
they welcome the Eastern Cape side to Kingsmead, before they host the Titans in
Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
The Dolphins have already beaten the Warriors in the One Day Cup, when they
claimed an impressive 79 run win over the Port Elizabeth based franchise at the
start of 2018.
In the middle of the most physically taxing campaign of the season, coach Grant
Morgan is excited by the fact that he has close to a full strength squad to
choose from.
“There have been a couple firsts in my time at the Dolphins recently,” the
coach explained.
“It’s the first time we have won more games than we have lost and it’s the
first time I have this many fit players to select from.
“(Lwandiswa) Zuma is the one player that is on his way back and unfortunately
Cody (Chetty) is out but it’s probably our highest count of fit players.
“To top that, everyone is in form as well. You have to leave a guy like Athi
Maposa out and Calvin Savage too, but that is exactly what you want.”
With a clash with the Warriors on Friday and then a trip to the
Pietermaritzburg to tackle the defending champion Titans, being in contention
for top spot on the log after the weekend is a challenge that captain Khaya
Zondo is embracing.
“I don’t think that being at the top of the log comes with any more pressure,
to be honest,” said Zondo.
“It’s more of a privilege really and if anything it will keep the guys more
motivated to do better and maintain the standards that we have set this year.
“We were in the same position last year and so this season it gives us a chance
to learn, do better and do things differently to how we did it last year.”
Zondo believes that St George’s Park held the key for the Warriors over the
Dolphins in the past but when his side plays host to the men from Port
Elizabeth it is a different story.
“We broke our PE hoodoo earlier this year and I think that when they come to
Kingsmead we always play well against them.
“At home we play good cricket against all teams and so we will have a lot of
confidence going into Friday’s game,” Zondo added.
The Dolphins go into the weekend with a squad that shows two changes,
Mthokozisi Shezi comes in for Okuhle Cele and Cody Chetty is out with a collar
bone injury that is likely to sideline him for the rest of the season.
Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, Khaya Zondo, Sibonelo Makhanya, Calvin Savage, Robert Frylinck, Imran Tahir, Athi Maposa, Prenelan Subrayen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Morne Van Wyk, Dane Vilas, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Mthokozisi Shezi.