The defending champions, the DP World Lions are once again at the top of the CSA 4-Day Series standings and #ThePrideOfJozi are hugely hungry to stay atop their throne when they complete their round-robin programme against the Knights in Bloemfontein from Thursday.
The race for #4DaySeries glory is heating up!
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With just a few weeks left of the competition. Who will rise, who will stumble, and who will be crowned champions? 🏆🔥
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Finishing first will allow Russell Domingo's team to once again host the CSA 4-Day series final at the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium. At the moment, they enjoy a 16.04-point lead over the Momentum Multiply Titans in second place.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins are in third place, 18.74 points behind on 91.40, while WSB Western Province (88.84) and Goldrush Boland (85.96) are also still in the running for a place in the showpiece red-ball match.
The game is also vital for the Free Staters, who are currently sixth on 75.76 points and needing to climb to fourth to avoid relegation from Division I. They will need to somehow defeat the DP World Lions and hope that other results go their way.
But our DP World Lions are extremely determined to come away from Bloemfontein with a big haul of points, their last two matches having been draws that have not gone past the first innings due to inclement weather.
"It's been tricky for us the last couple of weeks playing just the first innings, but getting a good number of bonus points has helped us, as has other teams not getting wins," Domingo says.
"Obviously it's a very big game in Bloemfontein, the Knights have to win to stay up and again there may be some issues with the weather. I'm sure Free State will be preparing a result pitch because they have to finish in the top four to move up. I'm surprised they're in this position because I thought they'd been doing okay."
GOOD NEWS
The good news for #ThePrideOfJozi is that they have managed to separate themselves a bit from the throng of teams lying between second place (Titans 94.10) and fifth place (Boland 85.96), so a full house of four bowling bonus points and a few batting points in a draw should be enough to keep them clear of the Titans and Dolphins even if they beat Boland and the Dafabet Warriors respectively.
While the DP World Lions did get four bowling points last weekend against the Dolphins by bowling them out inside 87 overs in Johannesburg, Codi Yusuf taking four for 54, Domingo was not happy with the scattergun performance of the attack.
"We bowled really poorly, it was only Codi Yusuf who didn't leak runs and he was superb. Otherwise it was very inconsistent and ill-disciplined and I was very disappointed with the bowling.
"But I am sure we will do better in Bloemfontein, we have had a tough discussion and I am looking for a response.
"It's the bowlers who win you tournaments and they potentially have two matches left now to really make their mark. We obviously missed Bjorn Fortuin and it will be good to have our lead spinner back this week," Domingo says.
Having dismissed the Dolphins for 357, the DP World Lions then had 61 overs on the final day to collect as many batting points as they could, and opening batsman Josh Richards throve, batting with great resolve to score 130 not out and lead his team to 250 for two and three batting points.
It had been a tough campaign for Richards, with just 184 runs in eight innings, and Domingo said he was delighted the highly professional workaholic has finally received some reward for his efforts.
"Josh scored a hundred late last season against the Titans that got us into the final and it was great to see him doing it again. He's been playing well, has been getting a lot of starts, so I am really pleased for him to now get a century. He's a quality player and he's been training hard," Domingo says.
Zubayr Hamza also continues to prosper this season and he scored 62 not out against the Dolphins to take his average in this season's four-day competition to 53.12.
Another DP World Lions favourite who has enjoyed a wonderful season is Temba Bavuma, who averages 72 in test cricket this summer, having struck two centuries and three fifties in seven innings. The great news for #ThePrideOfJozi is that the Proteas captain and tremendous batsman will be available for the clash with the Knights.