“The aim this season was to keep that record intact.” he said. “Their first defence was that of the 50-over title.”
The team failed to defend its title but victory over Marks Park in early January could see them finish in third.
“This season we have had to call on 31 players due to provincial call ups which did not happen last season,” said captain Ryan Cook.
“This has meant that more of the younger players have been blooded into premier league.”
With Stephen Cook and Neil McKenzie playing for the Lions, Richard das Neves, Devon Conway, Ethan O’Rielly playing for The Strikers and a selected few playing for Gauteng’s U19 team, the drain on the clubs resources was far more than last season.
“Some players played once and some only twice for the club. This sort of experience could not be replaced overnight,” said Dunk.
The one shining light to have come through was the 17-year-old King Edward schoolboy, Grant Roelofsen. He is the club’s leading run scorer with 255 from his six innings at an impressive average of 51. His highest score was 95.
Etienne Grobler’s departure for UJ threw the opening bowling partnership off and it has not been the force of old.
The gaps have been minimised by the arrival of Somerset player, Englishman Charlie Vickery, whose spin bowling has helped bolster the attack. He has taken nine wickets at an average of 16 and an economy rate of under four. His batting expertise was evident in the match against Pirates when he made a solid 39 batting down the order.
Dunk said with the Time and T20 competitions still to come, the team could still achieve their target of at least one trophy each season.
