No quarter will be asked for nor given in the Supersport Super Six cricket match between the KwaZulu-Natal Nashua Dolphins and North West Dragons beginning at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday as both teams will be looking for an outright victory in a bid to host the final beginning on April 1.
Going into the Super Six stage the Dolphins lead the competition with 35,54 points followed by Western Province (33,68), the Free State Eagles (21,12), the North West Dragons (20,80), the Border Bears (11.10) and the Griqualand West Diamonds (7,30).
The Dolphins go into the match unbeaten having comfortably won their matches against Boland, Free State, Easterns and Griquas. They played a draw against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth during the preliminary round played in October and November last year.
North West also have a good record with wins over Border and Gauteng, a drawn match against Northerns and a solitary loss against Western Province at Newlands.
The Dolphins’ batting during the competition thus far has been solid. Hashim Amla has been in good form with the bat as he leads the Dolphins’ run-scoring race with 338 runs (average 56,33). Doug Watson has 320 (average 64) and Dale Benkenstein 319 (average 63,80).
Wicketkeeper Duncan Brown lies fourth with 298 runs (average 99,33). Century makers are Brown (152*), Watson (147 and 134), Benkenstein (112) and Hashim Amla (159). The Dragons also have some form in batsman in Davey Jacobs with 450 runs (average 56,25) and James Henderson with 331 runs (average 66,20). Jacobs (181 and 110), Henderson (143*) and Grant Rowley (106*) have scored centuries.
On the bowling side Nixon McLean (20 wickets, average 18,05) and Imraan Khan (20 wickets, average 18,55) lead the Dolphins’ wicket takers. North West’s Francois van der Merwe (17 wickets, average 31,88) and Garth Roe (12 wickets, average 40) have also shown good form with the ball.
The Kingsmead pitch will probably give the bowlers some assistance early on Thursday but good batting will always be rewarded.
Both teams will be keeping an eye on Durban’s weather over the next four days as the weatherman indicates that Thursday will be clear with the possibility of showers in the area from Friday to Sunday. — Sapa