Warriors must use home-ground advantage

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 17, Colin Ingram for the Warriors during the 2013 Ram Slam T20 Challenge match between Chevrolet Knights and Chevrolet Warriors at De Beers Diamond Oval on February 17, 2013 in Kimberley, South Africa Photo by Charle Lombard / Gallo Images

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 17, Colin Ingram for the Warriors during the 2013 Ram Slam T20 Challenge match between Chevrolet Knights and Chevrolet Warriors at De Beers Diamond Oval on February 17, 2013 in Kimberley, South Africa Photo by Charle Lombard / Gallo Images

Published Apr 1, 2013

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Johannesburg – The Titans are the favourites heading into Wednesday's Ram Slam T20 Challenge qualifier, according to Warriors coach Piet Botha but he did concede that home-ground advantage could play a crucial role.

The Warriors will host the Titans at Buffalo Park and Botha said the Titans' playing staff, with the likes of an in-form Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Farhaan Behardien and the recently-signed Herschelle Gibbs, gave the visitors the edge.

The slow, low pitch at Buffalo Park could prove to be the Warriors trump card.

The Chevrolet Warriors claimed a bonus-point win over the Cape Cobras in their final group match to secure the home qualifier, a result which could prove crucial ahead of the knock-out match.

“The win was important. Obviously hosting a home final was first prize but we knew that a win and a bonus point would see us host a play-off at Buffalo Park,” Botha said.

“The Titans, on paper, are probably the favourites but playing in East London probably evens things out.

“We play very well in East London and we know the pitch. It probably doesn't suit the Nashua Titans, who like the ball coming on to the bat.”

The Warriors and the Titans have played each other twice this year in the Ram Slam T20 with the former winning the first game by five wickets before the Warriors beat the Titans by 12 runs at Willowmoore Park.

Botha said his team would not be taking the Titans lightly although they could draw heart from the recent performances against them.

“They (Titans) are always one of the franchises that are right up there.

“In terms of players they are one of the most respected teams in any format.

“They are a quality side so it is a massive challenge for us, but we have competed well against them recently, especially in T20

cricket.”

The Warriors had a difficult start to their T20 campaign beating the Knights in their first game before losing two matches on the trot, to the Titans and the Highveld Lions.

However, the Warriors soon found their form as they then reeled off three consecutive wins to reignite their run to the playoffs.

Botha said despite the rocky start, not too much had changed in the way the team approached matches and that finding their form had just been a matter of time.

“We started well and then lost a close game to the Titans when Albie scored 46 off 17 balls on a difficult pitch,” he said.

“Then we lost to the Lions in what was probably our one bad game of the season. But I think we have played pretty solid cricket.”

Opening batsman Christiaan Jonker has proved to be one of the Warriors' leading lights.

Playing his first season of franchise T20 cricket, the 26-year-old is currently third on the list of leading run-scorers with 310 runs at an average of 44.28 and an eye-catching strike-rate of 127.57.

He has smashed three fifties with a high score of 66 not out and his explosive batting at the top of the order has provided the Warriors with some stability at the start of their innings.

“He has been a revelation. He is able to clear the boundary and that plays a massive role. Good starts play an important role in T20 cricket and he has done that for us,” Botha said. – Sapa

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