CAPE TOWN – Cobras captain JP Duminy believes all-rounder Feriso Adams will bounce back after his nightmare final over at Boland Park on Wednesday evening.
Adams has been the Cobras’ go-to-guy during the death overs in limited-overs cricket this season. He was particularly effective in the RamSlam T20 Challenge, where he won a handful of games for the Cobras purely through his variations at the end of the innings.
However, at his home ground in front of friends and family, Adams finally succumbed to the pressure. Faced with defending 11 runs off the final two balls in the Momentum One-Day Cup encounter with the Dolphins, the Robertson-born bowler could only look on in despair as Robbie Frylinck despatched both deliveries for six over mid-wicket.
Adams cut a distraught figure as he slumped to the ground after the final ball, but it was Duminy who was there first to lift him off the pitch.
“The way we see it, he has been absolute gun for us in that situation throughout the season. There was always going to be a time that someone got hold of him, and unfortunately for Ferisco it was last night,” Duminy told Independent Media.
“He has good skills, and he is generally calm in those situations. I am sure he will bounce back, but it is going to be a good test of character.”
Adams, and the Cobras, do not have much time to dwell on the Dolphins disappointment as they need to get back on the saddle on Friday when the Titans visit Newlands.
It certainly is a highlight on the domestic calendar for the “North-South” derby has been reignited over the past couple of months. The Titans are the reigning RamSlam T20 Challenge and Momentum One-Day Cup champions, but it is the Cobras that have sent Mark Boucher’s side packing recently.
The Cobras have won the last two encounters between the teams – across formats – and certainly don’t have anything to fear. Coach Ashwell Prince has intimated as much in recent interviews, while Duminy believes the timing of the game also suits the home side.
“Generally, those types of games (the Dolphins defeat) has a way of leaving a bitter taste. Lots of thought goes into where you could have done something different,” Duminy explained.
“But we can’t afford to that. There is a quick turnaround and we need to switch back on immediately. The Titans are never an easy game. But we have found a way to be successful against them, probably because each guy just wants to lift his game by 10% when we play the Titans.”
Duminy was a bit hamstrung against the Dolphins with his regular new-ball pair of Dane Paterson and Rory Kleinveldt. The pair have been immensely successful for the Cobras recently, often setting the tone upfront and was sorely missed at Boland Park.
The Cobras skipper expects both to be back in action at Newlands with Kleinveldt having recovered from a knee injury and Paterson a viral infection.
“It was merely a precaution at Boland Park, but we’ll have a look at them in the morning. I am confident both Rors and Patto should be ready though,” Duminy said.