CAPE TOWN - Everyone must just take a deep breath and calm down, says Cape Cobras captain Dane Piedt.
The Cobras opened their One-Day Cup campaign with a 100-run defeat to the Knights in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
It was the Western Cape side’s first defeat under Piedt and new coach Ashwell Prince’s leadership, since taking over at the beginning of 2017.
There is an opportunity to start over against the Warriors at Buffalo Park in East London today. It is the first of three games the Cobras will play in the course of five days with a home game following against the Titans at Newlands on Friday before making the trip to Pietermaritzburg to face the Dolphins on Sunday.
A second consecutive defeat could send the Cobras into a downward spiral with back-to-back games on the horizon, but in reverse a change in fortunes could lead to a build-up in momentum for the games ahead.
For the latter to happen the Cobras batting order needs to take a great deal more responsibility than they did at the Mangaung Oval.
Openers Richard Levi and Omphile Ramela started like they wanted to chase the Knights’ 308 in 20 overs instead of pacing their innings like Theunis de Bruyn did for the home side, during his 132 off 117 balls.
“I think we must be less frantic, buckle up and the top six must accept that other teams will come hard at them. The Cobras can score 300 quite easily, but we had too many mediocre scores," Piedt said.
“We need to rectify this situation in our second match against the Warriors.”
Cobras’ Vernon Philander
The Cobras opted for a dual-spin attack against the Knights with left-arm spinner George Linde joining Piedt in the line-up. It did not have the desired effect and Proteas Test seamer Vernon Philander can expect to have his first outing since injuring his ankle after the series against Sri Lanka at the end of last month.
There is plenty of talk surrounding Philander’s possible return to the Proteas ODI squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in England in June, but the 31-year-old is focusing squarely on doing well for the Cobras.
“Of course I would like to play for South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy in England,” Philander said. “But I am not focusing on the wickets column and on how many wickets I take. It is about the team (Cobras) and getting them to a positive result."
Philander’s contribution over the next few games will be crucial, for the Cobras will be without opening bowler Dane Paterson for a little while longer.
Paterson is in New Zealand with the Proteas, but was meant to only stay in the Land of the Long White Cloud for the T20 international and opening one-day international against the Black Caps due to Highveld Lions all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius staying back to be at the birth of his first child.
Pretorius arrived in New Zealand on Monday, but the Proteas management have opted to hold on to Paterson’s services for a little while longer.
Cobras Team:
Dane Piedt (capt), Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, George Linde, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Vernon Philander, Omphile Ramela, Jason Smith, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (wk)