Lions set to challenge Titans in top-of-the-table clash
by Chumani Bambani,
2016-03-08 05:00:00.0
WITH four rounds of the Sunfoil Series remaining, Gauteng teams — the Titans and Highveld Lions — are firmly at the top of the table, making the chase for the title something of a two-horse race.
Almost four points separate the log-leading Titans (86.14) from the Lions (82.16) after six rounds of matches, and the nearest challengers are the Knights (65.28) in third place.
Despite sitting pretty at the top, the Titans know it would be premature to take the champagne off the ice.
"We can’t say we are sitting comfortably at the top just yet," Titans coach Rob Walter warned on Monday.
"There are only four points between us and the Lions, and four rounds of matches remaining. There’s still a long way to go."
The Centurion-based side is, however, pleased with the progress they have made so far, and they are hopeful of adding a second domestic trophy to their cabinet for the season after winning the Ram Slam Twenty20 title in December.
The Titans have won four of their six matches so far, with one defeat and one draw, and they beat the Knights comfortably by 359 runs at the weekend.
Walter has been highly impressed by his side’s overall performance in the competition.
"I’m really happy with the way we have been playing — both with bat and ball. It has really been an all-round team effort. We need to continue this way."
This week, the Titans will take on the fourth-placed Dolphins at Kingsmead Stadium.
Walter expects more of the same from his charges, who have shown some consistency this season in the four-day game.
"The Dolphins had a good win against the Warriors at the weekend (they won by an innings and 54 runs), so we should expect a tough match," Walter said. "We will need another good performance from our boys if we want to remain at the top of the table."
Much will rest on the batting form of Heino Kuhn, who tops the run-scoring chart with 482 runs.
The Lions, who are the only side to remain unbeaten, after having won four and drawn two matches, will be on the prowl to topple the Titans. The Johannesburg side had an emphatic innings and 78-run win over the Cape Cobras at the weekend.
The Lions’ surge so far has not been heavily reliant only on Stephen Cook’s bat — the Test batsman has scored the second-highest total runs in the competition (415) — but the bowlers have been dominant too.
Hardus Viljoen leads the attack after having claimed the most wickets (30), with Dwaine Pretorius the next best with 21 scalps.
The Lions take on the Knights this week at home at the Wanderers. In a bottom-of-the-table clash, the Cobras will host the winless Warriors at Boland Park in Paarl.
All the four-day matches begin on Thursday.
Heino Kuhn. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/JOHAN RYNNERS
WITH four rounds of the Sunfoil Series remaining, Gauteng teams — the Titans and Highveld Lions — are firmly at the top of the table, making the chase for the title something of a two-horse race.
Almost four points separate the log-leading Titans (86.14) from the Lions (82.16) after six rounds of matches, and the nearest challengers are the Knights (65.28) in third place.
Despite sitting pretty at the top, the Titans know it would be premature to take the champagne off the ice.
"We can’t say we are sitting comfortably at the top just yet," Titans coach Rob Walter warned on Monday.
"There are only four points between us and the Lions, and four rounds of matches remaining. There’s still a long way to go."
The Centurion-based side is, however, pleased with the progress they have made so far, and they are hopeful of adding a second domestic trophy to their cabinet for the season after winning the Ram Slam Twenty20 title in December.
The Titans have won four of their six matches so far, with one defeat and one draw, and they beat the Knights comfortably by 359 runs at the weekend.
Walter has been highly impressed by his side’s overall performance in the competition.
"I’m really happy with the way we have been playing — both with bat and ball. It has really been an all-round team effort. We need to continue this way."
This week, the Titans will take on the fourth-placed Dolphins at Kingsmead Stadium.
Walter expects more of the same from his charges, who have shown some consistency this season in the four-day game.
"The Dolphins had a good win against the Warriors at the weekend (they won by an innings and 54 runs), so we should expect a tough match," Walter said. "We will need another good performance from our boys if we want to remain at the top of the table."
Much will rest on the batting form of Heino Kuhn, who tops the run-scoring chart with 482 runs.
The Lions, who are the only side to remain unbeaten, after having won four and drawn two matches, will be on the prowl to topple the Titans. The Johannesburg side had an emphatic innings and 78-run win over the Cape Cobras at the weekend.
The Lions’ surge so far has not been heavily reliant only on Stephen Cook’s bat — the Test batsman has scored the second-highest total runs in the competition (415) — but the bowlers have been dominant too.
Hardus Viljoen leads the attack after having claimed the most wickets (30), with Dwaine Pretorius the next best with 21 scalps.
The Lions take on the Knights this week at home at the Wanderers. In a bottom-of-the-table clash, the Cobras will host the winless Warriors at Boland Park in Paarl.
All the four-day matches begin on Thursday.
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