Jekyll and Hyde Dolphins look to bounce back

The Dolphins will hope to extend their One-Day Cup unbeaten run to three games on Sunday when they host a desperate Cobras side. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

The Dolphins will hope to extend their One-Day Cup unbeaten run to three games on Sunday when they host a desperate Cobras side. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Published Mar 6, 2017

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DURBAN - The Dolphins, who are doing a good job of impersonating Jekyll and Hyde, have another big week ahead of them, as the scramble for playoff spots in the Momentum One-Day Cup gathers steam.

Khaya Zondo's side followed up their bonus-point win over the Knights with an abysmal showing against the Warriors last week, who smashed them by 130 runs, to open up the chase for top spot.

The self-same Warriors then lost to the Titans on Sunday, which saw the men from Pretoria usurp the Dolphins in top spot.

On Wednesday, the men from KZN go to Paarl to play the Cobras, and they will be very keen to bounce back and be in control of their own destiny.

It has been a trying season for the Dolphins, one of several if-onlys in both the competitions that have already passed them by. Now, as they try and finish off a stop-start 2016/17 season with a flourish, they know that they will have to step up this week.

Crucially, they will have both Andile Phehlukwayo and Imran Tahir available for the latter stages of the One-Day Cup, so there is great incentive to stay the course.

Coach Grant Morgan has spoken again and again of the need for his side to worry about themselves, but they would have started looking over their shoulders nervously.

The chasing pack is on their heels, and they will have to put the disappointment of Buffalo Park to one side, and confront a sluggish, but powerful Cobras outfit.

They were outlasted by the Cobras in Maritzburg nine days ago, as a poor finish with the ball undermined a tenacious scrap with the bat.

In Paarl, where the runs tend to flow, the Dolphins must try and run the Cobras ragged.

The Cape side has class, no doubt, but their meaty composition is not best suited for fielding in a format with little hiding place.

The Lions preyed upon this weakness, and the Dolphins must have observed and learnt.

Where the Cobras will hurt you is with their core skills, with the bludgeoning power of Richard Levi and the grace of Stiaan van Zyl with the bat, and the experience of Dane Piedt and Rory Kleinveldt with the ball.

Dane Vilas has also been in very good form with gloves and willow, so there is no shortage of game-breakers within the Cobras.

The Dolphins can't look too far ahead, but they host the Warriors on Friday. A good week in the office will see them go a long way towards securing a playoff spot at worst, and maintain a very keen interest on the coveted top spot.

Then they can welcome back Phehlukwayo, Tahir and Morné van Wyk (who did a whirlwind Pakistan Super League stint) back with some hearty news.

The Dolphins face the Cobras at 6pm on Wednesday in Paarl, with the game to be brodcast on Supersport 2 from 5:45pm.

Independent Media

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