With the 2014 edition of the Ram Slam T20 competition beginning on Sunday with a triple-header up in Johannesburg at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, I look at the teams and players that I believe will be the ones to watch.
The Sunfoil Dolphins, as defending champions, are naturally the team with the biggest target on their backs. With an impressive partnership of Cameron Delport and Morne van Wyk opening their innings, they will look to take the game away from their opponents right from the get go. Unfortunately for them, they will be without power hitter David Miller, who is currently on tour with the national squad. However, they will look to men like Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Khaylihle Zondo to keep the middle order in check and on the right track. These two have the ability to bat well constructed innings whilst still keeping the runs ticking over.
The Cape Cobras, who were last year’s runners-up, are another team I believe will most definitely be one to watch. Richard Levi, as an opener, is a huge boost to their batting line-up. However, he is a very black or white batsman. What I mean by this is that he can do extremely well and score 40+ runs to get his team going, or he can lose his wicket in the first over, contributing nothing. Each game is different so it is difficult to predict how he is going to perform, but I can say that usually whatever happens to him as an individual player tends to set the tone for the rest of the innings.
What the Cobras do have that is going to give them a leg above the rest is their middle-to-lower order. Boasting names such as Dane Vilas, Andrew Puttick and Justin Ontong (all of whom play smart and effective cricket, not to mention being in spectacular form), they have the luxury of batting deep down their order with a number of their bowlers being extremely handy with the bat.
The Highveld Lions have acquired the services of West Indian big hitter Chris Gayle, a man who needs no introduction, meaning they fancy themselves for some massive totals if Gayle is able to get going at the front of the innings. This will be a move the opposition teams would like to prevent as he is considered to be one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket.
Three teams in this competition have an added gem in their teams that is sure to add to their appeal of taking the title. Henry Davids of the Titans, Richard Levi of the Cobras and Vaughn van Jaarsveld of the Dolphins are all members of an elite seven-man squad who have hit 50 or more sixes in domestic T20 cricket.
If the first half of our limited overs cricket competition is anything to go by, I can’t stress enough how exciting this competition is going to be. South Africa is boasting some impressive local talent at the moment, all of whom seem to be in spectacular form. T20 cricket can be won or lost because of just one or two players and at this stage, they really could be anyone.
Starting Day Line-up – November 2
Chevrolet Knights vs. Chevrolet Warriors (10:00)
Nashua Cape Cobras vs. The Unlimited Titans (14:00)
Bizhub Highveld Lions vs. Sunfoil Dolphins (18:00)
*Note – All times are local South African time.
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