Pretoria – Ahead of their One-Day Cup match against the Knights in Benoni on Wednesday, Titans must up their mental game, says opening batsman Jacques Rudolph.
“I think it's just small compartments in our game where we need to be a little bit smarter in the way we think,” Rudolph said at a training session in Centurion on Tuesday.
“The errors we make are mental errors, and we're making poor decisions at times.
“I've been guilty myself. We just have to be a little bit more aware when we get into positions where we can take the game away from our opponents.”
The Titans were coming off a loss, a win and a no-result in their three matches to date in the domestic competition. The no-result game against the Dolphins on the weekend and was particularly frustrating, said Rudolph.
“It was quite sad we couldn't finish the game the other night. I thought we were in very a strong position to win that game.
“This competition is all about momentum, so the boys are in good spirits.”
Though the Titans could have notched up two wins from their first three matches, having lost to the Cobras by just two runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method, Rudolph was quick to point out his side were in serious need of improving their performance.
“We've had a couple of chats. We haven't played great cricket, but we were in a position to win that game against the Cobras.
“Obviously the Lions game was quite close (with the Titans winning by one run), and I think we want to move into position to win games more convincingly.”
Rudolph called on his bowlers to hit the ground running right from the start.
“There are certain compartments of our game which we need to work on a little bit more.
“I don't think we have necessarily started too well with the new ball when we're bowling, and it's sometimes the case where we have to play catch-up cricket.”
The key to overcoming the Knights in Benoni, would be a strong start, he said.
“With the Knights team, their opening bowlers are always a big danger.
“You just have to gather up the pressure in the first couple of overs and see it through and try and launch later on in the innings.”
In Wednesday's other match, the Warrior take on the Dolphins in Port Elizabeth. – Sapa