Baartman ready to play a lead role in battle of the pacers

Paarl Royals seamer Ottneil Baartman is embracing the challenge of leading his team’s attack as they head to the Bullring to face Joburg Super Kings in a crucial Betway SA20 clash on Thursday.

Only two points separates second-placed JSK (15) and Royals (13) in third spot as the duo hunt down the table-topping Sunrisers Eastern Cape (17).

Baartman became the leading wicket-taker in Betway SA20 history in the last clash against MI Cape Town at Newlands with his 52nd scalp, surpassing his former Sunrisers teammate Marco Jansen’s 51.

The pair are the only two bowlers to have reached the 50-mark milestone and lead the chasing pack by some distance with MI Cape Town’s Kagiso Rabada in third place with 36 wickets.

Baartman’s role has changed though since he joined Royals after three successful seasons at Sunrisers where he was more the supporting act to the likes of Jansen, Dan Worrall and Richard Gleeson.

But he is now the frontman at Royals, guiding a seam attack that consists of 19-year-old Nqobani Mokoena and is relishing the extra responsibility with Baartman again top of the competition’s wicket-table with 11 scalps.

“Obviously, the past three seasons, I was bowling with Marco Jansen. Good lad to have. Obviously, good PowerPlay bowler,” Baartman said.

“But yeah, he showed me what it's about. Really good to have him on my side. But now, it's a different story. Obviously, I don't look at the stats, I look at the outcome. But yeah, good to have 50 wickets on your side in SA20.

“Obviously, it's a different role now. I take it up. Looking forward to the challenge. Embrace the challenge.

And try to explore it.”

Baartman has also been impressed with how quickly the teenager Mokoena has taken to the high-pressure stakes of SA20.

“At the moment, he is showing me the ropes,” he chuckled. “He's bowling nicely, taking some good confidence into each game. Leading up to the first game he was bowling really quick and nicely.

“He’s taking a lot of wickets for the team and obviously, has a lot of potential.”

JSK also have reason for optimism about their fast-bowling stocks with Gleeson sitting just behind Baartman in second place on the table with nine wickets, while Proteas seamer Nandre Burger made an impressive return from injury against MI Cape Town a couple of nights ago.

Burger bowled with good pace and rhythm to claim 2/23 in the 12-over shoot-out at Newlands.

“Fantastic (to have him back),” Simons said. “Obviously, anybody who comes back from a long-term injury is someone of his quality. Gives you balance to your attack and you saw the value that he adds to any line-up.

“He seemed a little tentative at the start. First ball I thought he was a bit tentative and then he got into his rhythm and bowled very well. I think also tactically he was good.

“It's not just the delivery of pace or line or whatever. But tactically the nuances of what he did was really good. He's that extra dimension that we need and it's good to have him back.”

Simons also believes JSK can return to winning ways after their unbeaten record came to halt in Cape Town.

“We were a bit unlucky but it's just one of those things. It's a lot to do with confidence. These tournaments are tough,” he said.

“Six teams and four qualifiers, you need momentum. Some have come into these tournaments and battled up front and then got the momentum at the right time. So, we're very aware of the fact that we've had a good start but the real business end is to come.”