Cricket
Knights confident to take on the Lions─── 09:37 Wed, 03 Dec 2014
THE Chevrolet Knights may need to beat the Lions with a bonus point to make their RAM SLAM T20 encounter at the Diamond Oval count, but that does not mean the hosts will go out all guns blazing on Wednesday.
The Knights go into the final round of games trailing the Lions by four points and with a superior net run rate, but must take five points from the fixture to leapfrog their opponents and earn a home semi-final because they have won two games fewer.
Nevertheless, coach, Sarel Cilliers, will not be instructing his players to produce fireworks from ball one.
“We won’t be chasing the bonus point from the start, because I don’t believe in chasing something like that until you get into a position where it’s achievable,” said Cilliers.
“We’ll just look to play our game and then hope we can create a situation where the bonus point becomes a possibility.”
The Knights have lost fast bowler, Quinton Friend, to a hamstring injury, and have brought Duanne Olivier into the squad in his place.
Meanwhile, the Lions have elected to leave Chris Gayle at home to give the Jamaican an opportunity to rest his stiff back ahead of Sunday’s eliminator.
Although Gayle pulled out of the West Indies Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa because of the ongoing problem, he remains available to the Lions for the semi-final and, if the Lions qualify, for the final.
“It’s been quite tough managing his stiff back, but we’ve taken medical advice and decided to give him a rest,” coach, Geoff Toyana, said.
HEAD TO HEAD – Chevrolet Knights vs. bizhub Highveld Lions
Matches Played 16
Knights Win 07
Lions Win 05
Tie 02
No Result 02
