The DP World Lions may have only gone down by two runs in their CSA T20 Challenge match against the Warriors but coach Russell Domingo says the team are well aware that it was not the type of performance the Pride are looking for and that they will need to be back at their best on Sunday when they take on the Gbets Rocks at Boland Park.
Although the match at the DP World Wanderers Stadium against the Eastern Province side went down to the last ball, the Lions have readily admitted they did not play well, a messy performance in the field being the main cause of defeat.
“We didn’t deserve to win and the Warriors thoroughly deserved their triumph,” Lions coach Russell Domingo said. “Our fielding was really poor; we were far too sloppy and we also had a poor start with the ball and bowled too many soft balls throughout. Intensity and more focus in the field is really important. These days players are not just batters or bowlers, if you want to play international cricket then you have to offer more than one discipline. We have so many good players but we’re not going to get by with average fielding.
“With the bat, we really needed someone to score eighty-odd and bat through; the only reason we got so close was thanks to Wiaan Mulder (pictured) hitting some boundaries at the end. But we are only halfway through the competition, there are still seven matches to play, so there’s a lot of cricket left for us to get back up the log. Rather have that sort of performance now than at the end of the tournament,” Domingo said.
Opponents, the Rocks, are not going to be lacking any intensity or motivation because they are in the midst of a relegation battle. The #PrideOfJozi will also be leaving the comforts of home for the late-summer heat of the Boland valley.
“The Rocks had a good win over the Dolphins, who beat us, and we know they are going to be up for it, so it’s not going to be an easy game. Late in the season up on the Highveld, there’s a bit of a chill in the evenings and the pitches are maybe not as hard as previously, so there is a bit of movement.
"The scores are not as high now and it is tricky for the batters. But I expect it to be drier and slower in Paarl, it could spin a bit and spinners will come into the game more. A good total could be around 150-160 and chasing might be difficult because we are playing the second match of a double-header on the same pitch,” Domingo said.
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