Dragons ready for wholehearted fight against Dolphins on Valentines Day
The Dragons will want to win their second 4-Day Series match this season when they face the undefeated Dolphins from 14-17 February at the J.B. Marks Oval.
The North West Dragons face the Dolphins in their final home match of the season from 14-17 February.
Although the match will start on Valentines Day, no love will be lost on the field between these two teams.
The Dragons are currently in 7th position on the log on 61.08 points and will require a win or draw in order to escape the last position on the log. The Tuskers are currently in eighth position on 38.28 points. They next play the top of the log Titans at the Pietermaritzburg Oval.
The Dolphins are on 75.28 points and the only unbeaten team in the league. They have drawn four of their matches and one won. A win for the Dragons will push them above the Dolphins, who are currently in fourth position.
The Dragons will be boosted with the return of paceman, Bamanye Xenxe, who is yet to debut for his new team. Xenxe was signed from the Rocks, but picked up an injury and has consequently been out for several months.
The Dragons’ SA20 recruits, Wihan Lubbe, Sen Muthusamy and Duan Jansen is also back in the fold for the Dragons.
The match between the Dragons and Dolphins will start at 10:00.
Players to watch: Dolphins
- The top run-scorers for the Dolphins this season are left-handers, Tshepang Dithole (418 runs) and Marques Ackerman (406 runs).
- Jason Smith with 343 runs has also had a productive season with bat on hand.
- Jon-Jon Smuts is the surprising leading wicket taker for the Dolphins with 17 scalps to his name. Smuts’ left-arm spin should also prove tricky for the Dolphins on the J.B. Marks pitch.
- Okuhle Cele has also been in good form with ball in hand for the Dolphins, picking up 16 wickets.
Players to watch: Dragons
- The player of the series thus far for the Dragons is all-rounder, Migael Pretorius.
The aggressive paceman has picked up 17 wickets at an average of 22.29 and strike rate of 45.88. He has two five wickets hauls to his name with a bowling best of 6/78.
Pretorius has also staked his claim with the willow, hitting his debut first-class century against the Lions (109*) and stroking three half-centuries. He is the leading run scorer for the Dragons with 367 runs to his name at an average of 52.
- Dragons captain, Wihan Lubbe, is second on the list for the Dragons with 284 runs at an average of 31.55. The talented left-hander will want to het his first 100 this season after scoring one-half-century and a couple of decent starts.
- Lesego Senokwane is currently in top form with the bat and he will like to add to the century he scored earlier this season against the Warriors. He will also want to boost his average of 30.44 into 40’s.
