Auckland Aces vs Hampshire Royals – Champions League T20 – Match Preview
After securing their maiden Champions League T20 win, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766 Aces will be eyeing a spot in the tournament proper when they take on Hampshire Royals in their final qualifying match (Pool 1), played at SuperSport Park, Centurion, today, October 10, 2012.
Following their previous season’s heartbreak, a determined Aces side took the field against Sialkot Stallions last night and impressed with an all-round display. The bowlers first took advantage of the seamer-friendly conditions before the batters showed conviction to chase down a mediocre target convincingly.
The team indeed felt at home under favourable conditions, and one expects them to keep the momentum going against the reigning Friends Life T20 champions. Their trump card again will be http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sialkot-c842 batters under immense pressure. His assured performance provided everyone confidence after they suffered narrow defeats last year.
Also with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Mahmood-c1116 in the middle-order offers them experience, whose ice-cool approach against his fellow countrymen came for appreciation.
Having won by a considerable margin – six wickets and 17 balls to spare, the Aces have provided themselves with a fair chance to make it to the group stages. They have the belief this time around, and one expects them to do the job.
They will resist the temptation of making any changes, but skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Colin-de-Grandhomme-c51409 had a poor outing; conceding 19 in two overs before getting out on duck, but he is expected to retain his place.
Hampshire Royals is another team which will be making their first, most likely last, appearance of the CL T20. Their passage to the tournament was hardly predicted but strong performances at the back end of the English season ensured that they achieved the tag of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013’s best limited-over side (domestic).
They defeated Yorkshire in the finals of the FL T20, and will now aim to prove their mettle at this big stage. They have the personnel to do so. Headed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Glenn-Maxwell-c60189.
Unlike http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867, pressure to perform will be high on the county, and much will depend on how they start the game. They will rely on the above trio for some all-round magic, but asking too much could be a problem.
While Mascarenhas is sure to provide stability upfront with the ball, Afridi is badly out of touch with the bat, and his wicket-taking prowess has further diminished in recent times. Maxwell has had his fair share of moments with the national team but a poor World T20 has again raised questions over his ability. However, donning the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hampshire-c789 kit tends to get the best out of both the players.
With Aces winning, a defeat for the Royals will be seen as catastrophic, so pressure will play on their minds.
Both the matches yesterday were won by the team batting second, so toss will hold key despite the teams playing on a different venue. If a side has to bat first, then it must ensure that they post a sizeable total on the board. Rain could play a part.
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