As the newly renamed Hollywoodbets Pro Series, which includes the Hollywoodbets Pro20 and Pro50, gets underway this Friday, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies have made the most of their pre-season as they take on the Fidelity Titans at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Friday morning.
Their season starts with a Pro20 match on Friday, which is part of a double-header that will see the Hollywoodbets Dolphins play the Momentum Multiply Titans in the afternoon.
They then begin the defence of the 50 over competition title when their Hollywoodbets Pro50 campaign begins against the same opposition on Saturday.
The pre-season often brings about a renewed enthusiasm in a squad and for Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies head coach Angelique Taai this is no different.
"The ladies are putting in the hard yards behind the scenes and I can’t wait for them to get onto the park and display the work we have been doing leading up to the season," Taai said.
"The pre-season has been good for the squad, and it didn’t feel long at all. As a coach you always want more time with the players to get them as prepared as possible."
Heading into the new season the Dolphins Ladies side are chasing an improvement on their results in the T20 competition last season which has been a focus for the squad in the pre-season.
"We have focused a lot on our T20 skills and the fundamentals of the game heading into the new campaign.
"We've kept it very simple, yet very specific," Taai commented.
As the defending champions in the Pro50, the Dolphins will find themselves with a target on their backs going into this season. For Taai, she understands that this is a by-product of success.
"There are definitely expectations on us and people will be looking at us this season in that competition. We are always looking for ways and means to get better all the time on and off the field."
The Dolphins go into their first round of the season with a settled squad of players. Nondumiso Shangase leads the team again this season while newcomer to the Dolphins Yasmeen Khan is included in the squad.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies v Fidelity Titans Squad:
Nobulumko Baneti, Nonhle Nobuhle Busane, Alexandra Candler (vice-captain), Jade de Figueiredo, Kiara Fisher, Nicole De Klerk, Courtney Gounden, Asamkele Kawu, Esihle Kawu, Yasmeen Khan, Nosihle Sisanda Ngubane, Kwanga Pinini, Nondumiso Shangase (captain), Chandré Pather.