SPORTS

Confident Warriors take on Bushrangers in CL T20

Source:PTI
September 12, 2010 17:46 IST

High on confidence after their opening match victory over Wayamba XI, South African domestic side Warriors will look to continue in the same vein when they take on Australia's Victoria Bushrangers in the Champions League Twenty20 in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Mark Boucher led a solid batting display with a hurricane 26-ball unbeaten 40 to lead Warriors to victory on Saturday.

Bushrangers, however, will be a different ballgame altogether for the Warriors.

The Australian side may not have regular skipper Cameron White, who is turning out for Bangalore Royal Challengers, but in stand-in captain David Hussey, Brad Hodge, and Aaron Finch, Bushrangers have a host of Twenty20 specialists.

From the team's point of view, it will be important that these star players fire on all cylinders.

Rob Quiney is another batsman expected to shine for the Australian side. The opener struggled on the slow and low wickets in the third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals, but is likely to find the South African conditions much easier for his style of play.

The Bushrangers have an enviable record in this format of the game, winning the KFC big bash four out of five times.

The side had beaten teams like Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australian Redbacks on their way to title triumph in the last edition of the KFC tournament.

All-rounder John Hastings was the most successful bowler of the tournament, claiming 10 wickets in seven matches, while Finch, with 189 runs in six matches, finished as the side's top scorer.

Bushrangers, who could not make the final of the inaugural edition of the league after losing to last year's winners New South Wales in the last four stage, will look to improve on their performance this time around.

Warriors, on the other hand, will be a lot more confident going into tomorrow's match. Chasing a modest 154 for victory, the South African side, led by Boucher and Justin Kreusch's unfinished fourth-wicket partnership of 63 from 44 balls, won their opening fixture comfortably.

Boucher, who played for Bangalore in the IPL, struck four fours and two sixes during his 26-ball stay while Kreusch hit three fours in his 29-ball innings.

Opener and captain Davey Jacobs contributed 26 while one down Colin Ingram chipped in with a solid 28-ball 34 on a lively St Georges' Park pitch.

Source: PTI
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