The may carry the sobriquet Lions, but Geoffrey Toyana wants his side applying the attacking instincts of a pack of wild dogs in challenging for this season’s RamSlam.
That attitude served them well in their opening match last Sunday against the defending champions the Cape Cobras. They fought back from a difficult start, when they were put under pressure by the Cobras openers, and restricted them to a meagre 125/8 in 18 overs in a rain reduced match.
The “wild dog” approach that Toyana wants his team to play with is best encapsulated by left-arm slow bowler Aaron Phangiso, who was primarily responsible for the turnaround in Cape Town. Phangiso picked up two wickets and the pressure he built in the same over – the seventh – forced a run out that saw the Cobras slump from 54/1 to 55/4 in six balls.
Phangiso’s slight frame belies the gritty fighting spirit. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and in a Lions side that many feel don’t have the playing strength to last the course in the competition, he is a de facto leader.
“He is tough guy,” said Toyana. “His energy around the team has been very good. It’s surprising that he hasn’t played more at international level.”
Phangiso has played 16 ODIs and nine T20 Internationals in three years but his role has been that of a ‘filler’ who comes in when Imran Tahir is not available. This season has seen Phangiso in a battle with franchise teammate Eddie Leie for a spot alongside Tahir in the squad for next year’s World T20 championships. Phangiso’s control is much valued by Toyana and the Lions and he has been a key bowler in their recent success in the domestic T20 competition.
The Lions play the star-studded Dolphins at Kingsmead this evening, looking to build on the eight-wicket win at Newlands. “Yeah, it will be tough for us,” remarked Toyana.
“How we want to approach this is to be like a pack of wild dogs against an elephant, we have to keep attacking.
“This is a young group of guys, we will make mistakes, that is inevitable, but it is a learning process for them. What we won’t do is take a step back.”
The Dolphins’ awesome power was on display in their six-run win against the Titans in Centurion.
They weren’t dominant, but the depth of the talent at Lance Klusener’s disposal meant that even though the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Kyle Abbott didn’t perform at their best, others such as Dave Miller, Prenelan Subrayen and Andile Phehlukwayo made valuable contributions.
“How we start will be important,” said Toyana. “We weren’t very good with the ball in the first six overs at Newlands, we have to be more clinical there, especially against those guys.”
Toyana will most likely go with the same XI that won in Cape Town.
Today’s match starts at 6pm. - The Star