Exclusive: Dolphins Bank on Experience and Home Advantage Against Titans in One Day Cup Qualifier

The Cricket South Africa (CSA) One Day Cup has reached its final wicket with Boland having secured a home final in Boland Park in Paarl this coming Sunday.

The Titans and the Dolphins are set to play the qualifier on Wednesday at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban with the remaining spot in the final on the line.

The Transformation Saga

On Sunday, CSA confirmed that the Titans were to host the qualifier at SuperSport Park in Centurion against the Warriors as the two teams had finished in second and third place on the log respectively.

On Monday afternoon, CSA announced that the Dolphins, who had finished fourth on the log, were to host the qualifier having been awarded four points that took them from fourth place to second place.

This is following the Warriors' breach pertained specifically to Clause 3.2.2 of the CSA Administrative Conditions, which requires teams to field a minimum of three Black African players in the starting eleven.

Four points were docked from the then-third-placed Warriors and awarded to the Dolphins.

Dolphins' experience vs Titans youth

Now, the Dolphins find themselves hosting a strong Titans side with youngsters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rivaldo Moonsamy having had impressive returns in the group stages.

Pretorius is heading into the qualifier on the back of a record-breaking 69-ball 107 against the Warriors in Centurion and a 120 against Western Province in Cape Town as the 18-year-old opening batter continued his sublime form from the recently concluded SA20 season.

His opening partner, Moonsamy, also has two centuries in the campaign and currently averages 49 as the pair dominated in the group stage of the competition.

Dolphins head coach, Quinton Friend, told SportsBoom.co.za that knockout cricket is a different ball game and that the lack of experience of the Titans youngsters might not work in their favour.

Moreover, the Dolphins have a number of experienced players on their side including Jon-Jon Smuts and Prenelan Subrayen whose professional careers span over 15 years.

"You look at Lhuan-dre Pretorius who has been magnificent in the tournament, so as Rivaldo Moonsamy, that's where their strength lies and that's at the top of the order," Friend told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"We're going to have to be on top of our game to deal with the two at the top of the order. They are a good side. It's now knockout cricket, it's not about the log anymore. That's the bottom line. There's different pressure that comes with it and both teams will have to deal with that pressure."

"At the end of the day, a lot of the youngsters might not be able to deal with the pressure all that well. You could've done well throughout the competition but Wednesday is a totally different ball game when it comes to knockout cricket."

"That's where you want your experienced players to really step up and have the upper hand in the match situations. We also have a good mix although we have more experience. We'll be relying on that experience that have played numerous playoff matches during the course of their careers."

"With the hope that they're able to step up for us on the big stage and produce another match-winning performance."

Dolphins' home-ground advantage

Friend emphasised the different conditions between the Titans home ground - SuperSport Park- and the Dolphins home ground - Kingsmead - might decide the winner of the qualifier.

SuperSport Park is known for its fast and bouncy wicket where the ball tends to come on straight onto the bat whereas Kingsmead Stadium is known for being slow, keeping low and its spin-friendly conditions.

Friend highlighted that they are better prepared for the spin-friendly conditions.

"It's totally different conditions between Durban and SuperSport Park. I think the Titans have played good cricket at home during the course of this One Day Cup and maybe not so good away from home," he said.

"In saying that, coastal conditions are totally different. We've known for quite some time that Durban is not the same in terms of the pace and the bounce that it used to be."

"It does bring the spinners to play a little bit more and the thing is we've been playing on this for a number of years and we've had to adapt our games on what conditions are doing down the coast."

"We're pretty well prepared for conditions to be a tad slower and take a bit of turn. In saying that, it's probably not the strength of what the Titans are used to."

"That could give you a little bit of momentum from the outset that you're in your home conditions and you've got to back yourself to win your home game. I just think it will be a massive clash."

"Knockout cricket is what it's all about now and you've got to almost play your best game of cricket holistically to get over the line."

The qualifier between the Dolphins and Titans is set to get underway at 1pm SAST on Wednesday.