Ready to roar
ILLOVO – New players and smart cricket will give the Lions an edge this Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Joburgers have been promised the best cricket action at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in this year’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Geoffrey Toyana, coach of the bizhub Highveld Lions team met journalists at a press conference on 9 November along with off-spinner Aaron Phangiso and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder.
Toyana announced that Phangiso would captain the Ram Slam side for the second time before the three discussed the team strategy and what this season’s tournament promises. Last year, the team reached the semi-finals but poor batting let them down, as Phangiso admitted.
“I expect my team to have energy as we go through this competition,” Toyana said. “We will play a positive brand of cricket this year.”
He added that the pressure was on Phangiso to take the team one step further than last time, but his attacking opening bowlers and batsmen will look to put the team in a position of strength at the start of each game.
Also read: Outstanding day at the Wanderers
For Phangiso, hard work, a young side and new blood in the likes of former St Stithians College cricketers Marques Ackerman and Ryan Rickleton, and Janneman Malan, and including an extra bowler for depth, will give his side a better chance this season.
Mulder alluded to the atmosphere of a Twenty20 cricket match, saying it is not to be missed out.
“There is a lot of international cricketers playing so there is going to be a lot of excitement,” he told Caxton Local Media afterwards. “We are looking to be very positive and play cricket the crowd will enjoy, and that is why we play the game of cricket, for the people who come and watch.”
The Lions’ first home game is against the WSB Cape Cobras at 6pm on 17 November.
The squad for the tournament is:
Aaron Phangiso (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Mangaliso Mosehle, Dwaine Pretorius, Nicholas van der Berg, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Marques Ackerman, Omphile Ramela, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Hardus Viljoen, Ryan Rickleton, Wihan Lubbe, Carmi le Roux and Janneman Malan.
Details: bizhub Highveld Lions lions@cricket.co.za; 011 340 1500.
What do you look forward to most about the Ram Slam T20 Challenge? Let us know on our Facebook page.
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