Highveld Lions v Sydney Sixers - Champions League Twenty20 2012 (Group B) – Match Preview [Part 2]
Continued from Part 1 ...
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808’ line-up is equally powerful, and while they are lacking in star power, the team has proven to be a solid unit that knows how to get the job done.
Their bowling attack features http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sohail-Tanvir-c90665 and Dirk Nannes as notable left-arm pacers, who have claimed 5 wickets between them in the two matches the team has played so far. Nannes is particularly experienced in the T20 format, having played for 13 different teams (including the Lions), and has 187 wickets from 155 T20s under his belt.
However, while the seamers have displayed a tendency to go for runs, left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso has not only kept the run flow in check, he has also exploited the surfaces to his benefit (despite the lack of turn), and has 3 wickets for 34 from the eight overs he has bowled in the tournament so far.
In addition to Nannes, Tanvir, and Phangiso, the team has also benefitted from the contributions of Zander de Bruyn, and Chris Morris. With the team having won the toss and elected to field first in both of the matches they have played, the bowling attack has served a vital role in restricting the opposition to a low total, which their batsmen have gone on to chase down successfully.
The Lions’ batting order, at first glance, is heavily dependent on the top four, who’ve done most of the work in the tournament so far, while the middle order remains fairly untested. Skipper Alviro Petersen and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-McKenzie-c2094 lend a touch of experience to the batting order, while youngster Quinton de Kock, the Lions’ top run-scorer from the MiWay T20 Challenge, has also contributed significantly to the team’s scores in the CLT20. The Lions have also banked heavily on Gulam Bodi, who propelled the team to victory with a vital half-century against the Super Kings.
However, their most recent performance has revealed that the middle order are also ready, and capable of stepping up to the challenge should they be required – after the Super Kings managed to dismiss the top four, middle-order batsmen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jean-Symes-c66756 (39*) and Chris Morris (12*) kept their cool and led the team to victory with an unbeaten partnership of 44 runs.
Empowered by their improving abilities, Symes pointed out that the team was growing in confidence, and had adopted a more aggressive, attacking attitude.
“In the past people saw the Lions as a team that fights from behind,” he said. “This time we were out to change that perception. We wanted to lead and that's exactly what we're doing.”
Eager to continue their respective winning streaks, both teams will be facing off at Newlands in Cape Town today on October 18. The weather is expected to be mostly sunny, with temperatures of around 11 - 18° C.
Highveld Lions squad:
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Thami-Tsolekile-c2662 (wicketkeeper)
Sydney Sixers squad:
1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558
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