Lions set for titanic battle

Senwes Park will play host to another classic encounter between the traditional rivals, the Bizhub Highveld Lions and the Multiply Titans in the Sunfoil Series 4-Day competition from 3-6 November.  Potchefstroom’s premier cricket ground has been a home fortress for the Lions and they will look to continue their winning run against a top-of-the-table Titans side.

This will not be an easy task for the Lions who will need to make most of the familiar batting-friendly conditions at Senwes Park where good starts most often translate into victories. The Titans can call upon Aiden Markram, who is on a purple patch with the bat having scored successive hundreds in his previous two matches. Former North West batsman, Grant Mokoena will also look to stamp his authority on a ground that he knows like the back of his hand. The Titan’s main threat with the ball is Shaun von Berg, who took a 10-match wicket haul against the Cobras in his previous match with his leg- break bowling.

In the same breath, the Titans bats-men should be wary of the pace duo of Hardus Viljoen and Dwaine Pretorius, who are all in hot form with the red cherry in their mitts. Proteas spinner, Aaron Phangiso, will also look to get his name among the wickets.

For the Lions, hometown hero, Nicky van den Bergh and his North West teammate, Pretorius, have been in scintillating form with the bat and they will once again be called upon to provide vital runs. The Lions can also look to Rassie van der Dussen and Dominic Hendricks to provide a positive start.

Van den Bergh will bat on his home ground of Senwes Park and is looking forward to continuing his good run of form.  ‘It’s always good to come back to Senwes Park. It is a ground that I know relatively well and have been successful at in the past,’ said the Potchefstroomer who recently scored his maiden first-class hundred for the Lions.

‘I am happy with my game at the moment after contributing some good scores with the bat for the Lions in the Sunfoil Series. I’ve scored a 101 and 99 and I wish that I could have converted to another hundred, but that is how cricket works sometimes,’ he added.

Van den Bergh hopes that he and his teammates can deliver the goods to  move further up the table in their quest for Sunfoil Series success.

‘We are currently fourth in the log and a good result will give us the opportunity to move up to first on the table come the halfway stage of the competition.’

Only six points separate the Titans in first and Lions in fourth place and a win will not only prove crucial for championship success but will also be a great motivator for the season ahead.