On loan Beuran ‘like a vital organ’ for the Lions

If a bowling attack were to be viewed as a living body then outright pace would be one of the vital organs, which is why Highveld Lions coach Geoff Toyana has signed Cape Cobras left-arm quick Beuran Hendricks on a loan deal for the rest of the Sunfoil Series competition.

Hendricks will make his debut on Thursday as the Lions take on the log-leading Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg in the only four-day game this weekend.

The acquisition of Hendricks has raised some eyebrows because there are a clutch of promising young pace bowlers in Gauteng itching for a chance to get some franchise action – Carmi le Roux, Sean Jamison, Matt McGillivray and Keith Dudgeon are all in the system.

But Hendricks is the replacement for Hardus Viljoen, the strike bowling enforcer who has torn his groin muscle and will be out of action for between six-to-eight weeks.

“I thought about it long and hard, but with Hardus gone we’ve lost our 140+ bowler and in the two nets Beuran has had with us, he’s shown good speed. That’s the big thing we’re looking for, someone who can bowl in the high 140s.

“It is tough for the guys in the structures, but with a few guys missing like Reeza Hendricks, Mangi Mosehle and Aaron Phangiso, it’s difficult getting the balance of the side right. We can only play five White players and Nicky van den Bergh has been playing very well, Rassie van der Dussen is a good cricketer, Dwaine Pretorius a great player and Stephen Cook is back as well,” Toyana told The Citizen on Wednesday.

With the Highveld Lions currently fifth in the standings, but just one win away from the top of the log, Toyana said that the return of Cook is most timely and the Test opener will captain the side.

“Unfortunately Temba Bavuma is injured, he has a slight groin problem, but to have that experience that Cookie brings back is great. It’s been quite refreshing having him back, the other batsmen have been able to tap into his knowledge, and he’s a leader and a big positive factor in the changeroom,” Toyana said.

“But the competition is still tight and close and we’re against the top-of-the-log team who are playing good cricket, so it should be a mouthwatering game.”

The Dolphins will welcome back Test spinner Keshav Maharaj, and coach Grant Morgan agreed with Toyana’s assessment of how closely-fought the four-day competition is currently.

“Everything can change very quickly, I mean we can drop from first to fifth, so we’re not looking at that. We’re looking at doing the small things well and hopefully that will help us achieve the desired result. We don’t want to be afraid of losing and we don’t want to think of the things that can go wrong, but we rather want to think of what can go right.

“It’s all about having the right mindset. We’re playing well at the moment and hopefully we can build on that this weekend,” Morgan said.