Energetic Knights take on hardened Cobras

READY TO ROCK: The Northern Knights team is buoyant after finishing its qualifying engagements unbeaten and is raring to go on the eve of its match against Cape Cobras on Thursday. Photo: K.R.Deepak

Friday’s face-off between the young and energetic Northern Knights and Cape Cobras, seasoned campaigner, shouldn’t be short on excitement.

The swinging duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who’ve left behind a trail of destruction in the Oppo Champions League Twenty 20 at this very ground, may find their match in Vernon Philander and Rory Kleinveldt.

Sans swagger, Anton Devcich for the Knights and skipper Justin Ontong for the Cobras, made their assessments on the contest’s eve.

Anton Devcich: Playing at Raipur is definitely an advantage. We know the conditions with three good hard quality games here behind us and it’s starting to feel a little bit more like home. Cape Cobras is a quality side even without Duminy, but we want to focus on what we are good at. We have options in team composition but we’ll see what the pitch has to offer and how we hit at the nets to plan our strategy.

"Our middle order is a little untested but they’ve been playing in England. In T20 cricket, it doesn’t matter what form you are in the previous day because on the night it can be so much different.

"I think guys batting lower down the order are just as confident as those at the top.

Justin Ontong: "We haven’t played practice games in India but many T20 matches back home besides doing a lot of paper work in preparation.

"JP (Duminy)’s absence is a huge loss but we have many exciting young players for whom it’s a great opportunity provided our bowling unit can defend it.Knights probably have an advantage for they know how to go about their game plans.

"We are the underdogs for tomorrow’s game. We have to ensure we’re on top of our game and not focus on the Knights, who’ve been playing very good cricket.

"IPL teams can be favourites. I don’t think anyone gave KKR a chance to win. It just shows you are never out of this game. Make sure you keep staying in the game.It just takes a cameo from someone. On your day, one or two players can come good.

"We could see some high scores in this competition. The wickets generally have been good with pace and bounce South Africans do like.

"As the tournament unfolds, the spinners will get into it. We quite like the wicket here from a South African point of view."

Squads:

Cape Cobras: Justin Ontong (capt), Hashim Amla, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijima, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Zakhele Qwabe, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan Van Zyl, Dane Vilas.

Northern Knights: Daniel Flynn (capt), Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Harris, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Brad Wilson.