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Justin Kemp

MichAel Doman

TWO below-par performances in Paarl have slowed the Cape Cobras’ mission to retain their SuperSport Series title and they are going to have to scrap like the blazes to hang onto it in the next two weeks.

Perennial challengers the Titans squeezed a two-wicket victory against the Cobras on Saturday, after the Warriors had handed the home team their only other defeat of the season in December, also in Paarl. The Titans are now marginally ahead of the Cobras at the top of the log, with an easier two-match conclusion to the campaign ahead.

The Titans, who have been out-kicked in the closing stages of the tournament by the Cobras in the past two seasons, play the Warriors and bottom team the Dolphins home, while the Cobras this week entertain the Knights at Newlands, then travel to the Wanderers to face the Lions in their final game.

National call-ups will affect selections, specially for the final game, but the Cape side should have captain Justin Kemp and JP Duminy back this week, and are waiting on updated information on injuries to key bowlers Rory Kleinveldt and Vernon Philander. As selection convener Omar Henry said of the two seamers: “It would make a difference to have Rory and Vernon back; they are at the top of their games. It would add a bit of oomph”.

The Cobras do have recent experience of delivering when it counts in the four-day competition, but they are going to have to show the necessary hunger, starting on Thursday, if they want to hold onto their Supersport title.

l Meanwhile a move is afoot to have top domestic cricket restructured, abandoning the six-franchise system in operation since 2004 for a 12-team set-up. Prior to the 2004/05 season local competitions comprised 11 teams, but a lack of depth in some provinces led to regional amalgamations to create stronger teams, lift the level of competitions and better provide players for the national team.

For example, Western Province and Boland combined to form the Cape Cobras, using both Newlands and Boland Park in Paarl as home venues.

There was an elevation of standards in the six-team model, although the Dolphins, combining the coastal and inland cricketing structures of KwaZulu-Natal, have performed poorly in the past couple of seasons, specially in the four-day competition.

It is early days yet for the new plan, but a committee has been tasked by Cricket South Africa to look into the possible new structure.

One insider said the idea of 12 provinces would create opportunities to bring more professional players into the system. If the six franchises contracted 18 players each, only 11 played, and the seven “extras” meant there were already 42 professionals not in action.

The proposed 12 provinces are WP, Boland, Eastern Province, Border, KZN, Easterns, Northerns, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Griqualand West, and South Western Districts. SWD would be the addition to the pre-2004 group of 11, and they have been performing well this season, beating last season’s double champions WP.

In the proposed 12-team structure, the 50-over and T20 competitions would feature all teams playing a single round of games. The Supersport Series could have two divisions of six teams each, featuring promotion and relegation.

The insider said the plan for 12 teams could be implemented by next season if the cricket community “was confident about it”.