Warriors hope to build on good start to series

THE Chevrolet Warriors will have their tails up in their Sunfoil Series cricket match against the Dolphins at Buffalo Park in East London, starting today.

A comprehensive 161-run win over the Titans in the opening match of the season has given the Warriors renewed confidence as they bid to improve on their recent form in the competition.

It was an impressive allround performance by the Warriors, who are determined to challenge for honours in four-day cricket.

The Warriors struggled in the competition last season, winning just two of their 10 matches.

Coach Piet Botha will be delighted by several individual showings by his team against the Titans as they finished off the champions with plenty of time to spare.

Before the Titans game, skipper Davy Jacobs said it was up to the players to cash in on the hard work they had put in during preparation and they heeded his words.

He led from the front with a fine century that put his team in an unbeatable position when play started on the final day.

Jacobs (103) added 201 for the first wicket with Michael Price (105) which enabled the home team to declare their second innings on an impressive 353/5.

There were also several outstanding performances by the Warriors bowlers with fiery paceman Basheer Walters putting the skids under the Titans with a fine first innings haul of 5/57.

That effort earned Walters the man of the match award, and if his efforts in the opener are anything to go by, the Dolphins batsmen can expect a torrid time over the next couple of days.

When the Titans batted a second time it was pace bowlers Gurshwin Rabie (5/61) and Andrew Birch (4/57) who tore the heart out of their batting line-up.

Buffalo Park traditionally favours the batsmen, and might present the Dolphins with the opportunity to improve their batting performances.

Warriors spinner Simon Harmer is expected to come into his own on the Buffalo Park track – historically a low-and-slow pitch which requires seam bowlers to use their guile to defeat batsmen.

The teams are:

Chevrolet Warriors: Davy Jacobs (capt), Michael Price, JJ Smuts, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Kelly Smuts, Athenkosi Dyili, Simon Harmer, Andrew Birch, Basheer Walters, Gurshwin Rabie.

Sunfoil Dolphins: Daryn Smit (capt), Divan van Wyk, Imraan Khan, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Robert Frylinck, Dane Paterson, Kyle Abbott, Craig Alexander.