Boland targeting a fast start to 4-Day Series

Goldrush Boland will be chasing a fast start to the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series when they take on the Momentum Multiply Titans in their season opener at Boland Park starting on Thursday.

With the new campaign on their doorstep, captain of the Boland side Clyde Fortuin is hoping that his team can hit the ground running and establish themselves as early as possible in the tournament.

"I think the big one for us is just starting well," Fortuin said. "If you look back to last year and years before, we started quite slowly. So just really looking to get running as soon as the first ball is bowled on Thursday."

Last season saw Boland finish in fourth on the overall table in a season that saw them lose their first match, then win their second and register five draws to close out the campaign. Their win came in a dominant performance against the Warriors at home in Paarl.

Looking back on the previous campaign, Fortuin believes that they put in place some solid foundations to build on going into the new season starting this week.

"I think we are a well rounded four-day team, with good spinning and seaming options and then on the batting front we performed really well last season," the captain said. "Our top four performed really well last year and helped in making sure we put up big first innings totals and put the opposition under pressure."

The new season brings some exciting prospects for the men from the Winelands as they look to stamp their authority on the red-ball competition. Fortuin believes they've given themselves a strong chance with the build-up to the new season.

"The preparation has been really good. Guys got to work earlier than normal and you can tell the boys have put in work in all areas and are fitter and stronger than last season.

“There haven’t been any interruptions (to our preparations) and this is probably the earliest we’ve had all our players together and the boys who've been here have been outdoors and playing cricket."

In 2024/25 Boland had the competition’s top bowler in Shaun von Berg who bagged 35 wickets with his leg spin while on the batting front Grant Roelofsen scored 560 runs at an average of 70. The right-hander finished as the third highest run scorer in the competition.

Boland's win came at home at Boland Park; however their only loss also came in their own conditions. Making sure they are ruthless at home is a big focus for the team according to skipper Fortuin.

"You absolutely want to win as many of your home games and use your home conditions to the best of your ability. Everyone knows what to expect when they get to Paarl, so it’s just making sure we understand how we want to go about playing in our conditions and making sure we are 100% prepared."

The Boland squad is a fairly settled one heading into Thursday’s showdown with the current joint Division 1 titleholders, the Titans. There haven’t been many additions, but Fortuin is confident in the squad they’ve assembled.

“I think we’re shaping up well, our preparation has been really good and we’ve managed to play a couple warm-up games.

“We’ve got a couple new younger guys who’ve been in and around the squad this off season and have shown lots of promise. We’ve obviously added (Jhedli) van Briesies, who’s very talented and hungry to perform.”

Heading into the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series, the Momentum Multiply Titans might be under new coaching leadership but the drive and purpose remains the same.

The Titans will head to Boland Park to take on Goldrush Boland in their 4-Day Series opener starting on Thursday.

Rivash Gobind has taken over at the helm of the Centurion-based side and they are on a drive to go one better than their shared red-ball title from last season.

The Titans finished second on the log in the 2024/25 season but put in a great fight to draw the final after being asked to follow on by the DP World Lions. Young Lhuan-dré Pretorius made a match-saving hundred in the second innings for the Titans at the DP World Wanderers Stadium.

With the likes of Pretorius and a number of positive batters in the mix at SuperSport Park, Gobind wants his team to play a strong, positive brand of cricket this season.

“In four-day cricket we want to play front foot cricket, make things happen and always try to win the game whether we are batting or bowling,” Gobind said.

“We want to make brave decisions and not let games meander. There is a lot of experience in the group and we have players that can play cricket in that way, which is very exciting, so we are looking forward to seeing how that shapes up.”

The Titans have brought in some players to their squad for the new season and Gobind believes they have strengthened the squad in the right areas.

“There have been some additions to the four-day squad and Lesego Senokwane is a big one for us. He brings a lot of experience at the top of the order and we are really excited to see what he does

“We’ve also signed Simon Harmer as well. When he does play for us, we are looking forward to that experience that he does bring. Having worked with him in the past I know exactly what he’s going to add to the group and he’s played for the Titans before so that does help.”

Winning is a huge part of the 4-Day Series with a number of drawn matches highlighting last season’s action. Gobind’s side will not be holding back chasing victories.

“We want to win every 4-Day game that we play but playing at home does give us an advantage because of the familiarity of the conditions and we know what it takes to win at SuperSport Park. We do have a pretty good record there and that’s something that we want to continue.

“This season we do have quite a few games at home so we will look to express ourselves and our squad is set up knowing that we will be playing most of our games on the Highveld,” coach Gobind explained.

The Titans are set up to challenge anyone they come up against with both bat and ball and Gobind feels they are well rounded across all disciplines.

“I think we are well set up to bat deep at times. We have X-factor players with the bat and the ball. Batters who can score quickly and bowlers who can change a game in a spell, so those attributes are present all through our squad.

“We are well balanced between bat and ball and the squad is ready to go and excited that the season is here.”

Heading into the campaign Gobind is happy with how the team has been preparing.

“We’ve done well and prepared well. The facilities at SuperSport Park are top class and we’ve spent a good period of the off-season upskilling.

“It’s a great bunch of guys and there’s a lot of experience in that group that have helped the younger guys integrate,” the coach added.

The trip to Boland Park for the Titans will see them reignite their rivalry with a Goldrush Boland side also eager to start the season on a strong note.