The KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins, who led the Supersport four-day cricket standings after the first round in October, are now eager to resume their chase for some silverware on Thursday at Kingsmead after losing out in the Standard Bank and Pro20 tournaments.
They take on the Cape Cobras, who will probably be without their international players doing duty against Ricky Ponting and his Australians.
Ahmed Amla has a serious thigh injury and is expected to be out of action for at least the next three weeks.
Imraan Khan was not available for selection. He is serving a Supersport Series match suspension imposed by Cricket South Africa after an incident during the Dolphins’ match against the Titans in the first round of matches. Khan is alleged to have hit an advertising board with his bat while leaving the field of play, after having been run out.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial team captain Rivash Gobind has been promoted to open the batting with Doug Watson in place of Khan following his good form with the provincial side recently.
Two other players making their Supersport Series debuts are Kyle Smit and Saidi Mhlongo. Smit impressed with some outstanding performances at the top of the order with the Dolphins in the Pro20 Series.
Mhlongo, who is a left-arm seamer and a graduate of the Suncoast Cricket Academy based at Kingsmead, has been in outstanding form with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial team in their past four matches. His recent performances saw him getting the nod ahead of fellow academy left-arm seam-bowler Yusuf Abdullah, who impressed in the limited-overs versions of the game recently.
Wicketkeeper Duncan Brown has regained full fitness following his absence from the Pro20 matches owing to an injury to his knee.
The line-up for this week’s match is Doug Watson, Rivash Gobind, Hashim Amla, Kyle Smit, Dale Benkenstein, Jon Kent, Duncan Brown, Lance Klusener (captain), Saidi Mhlongo, Ugasen Govender, Mornantau Hayward and 12th man Andrew Tweedie.
At the same time, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial side travel to Paarl to take on Boland in the South African Airways three-day and one-day challenge series. — Sapa