Klusener wants consistency

File image - A team bowling effort, led by Kyle Abbott with 3/54 and Robbie Frylinck's 2/39, ensured the Dolphins scored an important and thrilling victory when they beat the Titans in their One-day Cup clash. Photo by Johan Pretorius

File image - A team bowling effort, led by Kyle Abbott with 3/54 and Robbie Frylinck's 2/39, ensured the Dolphins scored an important and thrilling victory when they beat the Titans in their One-day Cup clash. Photo by Johan Pretorius

Published Nov 15, 2012

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Johannesburg – Dolphins coach Lance Klusener admitted he was relieved after his side's first One-day Cup win and challenged his players to maintain their form when they meet the Titans in Durban on Friday.

The two sides meet in a second versus third clash, with the Dolphins jumping from bottom of the log to third following a convincing 128-run win over the Knights in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night.

“I think we were due for a performance,” Klusener said on Thursday.

“So yes. We have been working exceptionally hard and we do feel like we've been letting ourselves down.

“It was nice to get on the board and the challenge now is to put a performance like this on the table week in and week out.”

Wednesday's victory was the Durban franchise's first across all competitions this season, though they have suffered awful luck when it comes to the weather.

Klusener feels the biggest challenge now will be for his players to stay consistent.

“We haven't really put it all together. If you put the batting, which was good last night, with a reasonably good bowling performance like we did, then you get those results,” he said.

“We've been mixing good batting with poor bowling and vice versa, which makes it impossible to win.”

Despite climbing to third, Klusener said there was a long way to go in he competition.

“I think the log will only start to take shape after about seven or eight games, as we get towards the end,” he said.

“As good as we were last night, we need to be a lot more consistent.”

The former Proteas player felt their opponents on Friday, the Titans, were a really good side, with there being no easy games in the One-day Cup.

Titans coach Matthew Maynard was pleased his side having recovered from their humiliating loss against the Highveld Lions in their opening game, after their agonising Champions League Twenty20 exit.

Successive wins since over the Cobras and Knights have lifted them to second, although they trail the leading Lions by 10 points.

“To lose the semi-final of the Champions League off the last ball of the game took a lot out of the players,” Maynard said.

“I don't think we recovered in time for that first game against the Lions, but since then the guys have responded fantastically.”

The former English Test player said he was pleased with the way things were coming together for his charges.

“Our batting looks very solid and so does our spin department,” Maynard said.

“We still got a bit of work to do with our seamers, but that's an ongoing process.

“We'll be looking to maintain our form after those two wins.” – Sapa

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