Dolphins vs Lions, Momentum One Day Cup 2020, Today Match Prediction 05 Mar 2020

dolphins vs lions Match Prediction & Analysis

It’s the top of the table clash as Dolphins square off against the Lions. Both teams have lost just one game each but there are a couple of differences.

Dolphins have played seven games while Lions have played only six. Meanwhile, the former has two bonus-point wins while Lions have only one. Dolphins have been clinical in almost every game that they’ve played. Their only loss came against the Cape Cobras when they were chasing 286 in 43 overs (Duckworth-Lewis method due to rain). Apart from that, there’s hardly been any blip. Be it batting first or chasing, be it defending low totals or chasing significantly bigger ones, Dolphins have stepped up to the challenge.

On the other hand, it hasn’t been too different for the Lions either. Even they have chased and defended well too. They won a couple of really tight games as well and have shown they can hold their nerve in crunch situations. They’ve had winning streaks either side of the loss which came against the Warriors.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Dolphins Preview

First things first. Dolphins will be without their skipper Keshav Maharaj who has been included in the South African ODI team for the series against Australia and alter will travel to India for a three-match ODI series. Hence, he is likely to miss a large part of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins batting line-up has been in good form. They've done really well and have been racking up good scores. It’s wicket-keeper batsman Grant Roelofsen who is leading the charge at the top of the order. He has scored 453 runs at an average of 75.50 in this tournament. Sarel Erwee who has also been opening the batting alongside Roelofsen has had a decent tournament. He’s made 268 runs at an average of 44.66. Khaya Zondo has done well too and averages 41.40 in this season.

Maharaj was the leading wicket-taker but Dolphins will need to bank on others to produce the goods. The likes of Robbie Frylinck, Prenelan Subrayen, and Daryn Dupavillon will have to step up and take more responsibility.

Dolphins Predicted Playing XI:

Sarel Erwee, Grant Roelofsen (wk), Marques Ackerman, Khaya Zondo, Senuran Muthusamy, Sibonelo Makhanya, Robbie Frylinck, Cody Chetty/Lwandiswa Zuma, Daryn Dupavillon, Prenelan Subrayen, Okuhle Cele

Dolphins Actual Playing XI:

Grant Roelofsen, P Subrayen, Sibonelo Makhanya, C Chetty, Okuhle Cele, Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, Daryn Dupavillon, Marques Ackerman, R Frylinck, Khaya Zondo

Lions Preview

The Lions batting line-up wears a solid look, especially after the return of Reeza Hendricks. The South African top-order batsman smashed a fine ton on return to the Momentum One-Day Cup. Ryan Rickelton has been in fine form and has been leading the way with the bat for the Lions. He has amassed 359 runs at an average of 59.83 and is also striking at 98.08.

Wicket-keeper bat Nicky van den Bergh, Wihan Lubbe and Delano Potgieter form a solid middle-order and all three of them have been in good form. Van den Bergh has made 225 runs at an average of 45.00 while Potgieter has scored 210 runs at a strike-rate of 109.94. Lubbe is striking close to a 100 as well in this tournament.

Aaron Phangiso is the leading wicket-taker for the Lions. The left-arm spinner has taken 14 wickets from six games at an average of 18.21. Johannes Diseko, Bjorn Fortuin, and Eldred Hawken have done decently as well.

Lions Predicted Playing XI:

Ryan Rickelton, Dominic Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Nicky van den Bergh (wk), Wihan Lubbe, Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Ayavuya Myoli, Aaron Phangiso (c), Eldred Hawken, Johannes Diseko

Lions Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Phangiso, Reeza Hendricks, Johannes Diseko, Ryan Rickelton, Dominic Hendricks, NJ Van den Bergh, Wihan Lubbe, Bjorn Fortuin, Delano Potgieter, Eldred Hawken, Ayavuya Myoli

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It is going to be a sunny afternoon in Durban and a pretty humid evening. The temperatures will hover around in the high 20s in the afternoon while it will cool down slightly as the game progresses but humidity is set to increase. The 22-yard surface is likely to be a good one to bat on and the ball might do a little bit more under lights.

Venue Details

The Kingsmead in Durban is a regular international venue and is one of the top cricketing venues in South Africa. It’s the home for the Dolphins as well. It has a capacity of about 25,000 which is largely filled during an international game. Dolphins have won both their games at this venue in this season so far.

Toss: To Bat

The toss might just play a role in this game. It is a day-night encounter and generally, the ball tends to do a little more and has an extra zip under lights. Both captains will want to bat first if they win the toss. Teams batting first have won both the games at this venue in this season so far.