Dolphins vs Titans, Momentum One Day Cup 2020, Today Match Prediction 27 Feb 2020

dolphins vs tit Match Prediction & Analysis

The 25th match of the Momentum One-Day will see Dolphins taking on Titans at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Thursday. While Dolphins would look to continue their impressive run until now, Titans could move to the second spot in the points table with a win.

The table-toppers, Dolphins have had a clinical tournament until now with five wins out of six games. In the last game, the bowlers came up with a team effort to restrict Warriors to a respectable 237-9 after being asked to bat first. In return, Sarel Erwee's first hundred of the tournament along with Grant Roelofsen's half-century helped Dolphins register a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

Meanwhile, Titans will be returning to action after a couple of weeks. In their most recent match, Titans beat Cape Cobras by a massive 92-run margin. The team's star players, Dean Elgar who scored a century along with half-centurions, Henrich Klaasen and Farhaan Behardien helped Titans to post a massive 302-4. Despite Zubayr Hamza's valiant 93-run knock, Titans registered an easy win as Imran Manack and Tshepo Moreki starred with four and three wickets respectively.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Dolphins Preview

Until the last match against Warriors, Dolphins' fantastic start to the season was mainly due to outstanding performances from the duo of Grant Roelofsen and Keshav Maharaj. While they continued to display they're fine form, Sarel Erwee's century would come as a big boost to an already confident side.

As usual, the bowling unit also played it’s part to perfection. While Keshav Maharaj has led the way with 13 scalps, the likes of Robbie Frylinck, Daryn Dupavillon and Prenelan Subrayen have also provided good support.

Even young fast bowler Okuhle Cele has impressed by picking up four wickets. A major reason for Dolphins' success until now has to be the effectiveness of the bowling attack. In six matches, Dolphins have only conceded more 250 on two occasions and this has invariably meant that one or two decent knocks from the batsmen would suffice for a victory.

Dolphins Predicted Playing XI:

Sarel Erwee, Grant Roelofsen (WK), Marques Ackerman, Senuran Muthusamy, Khaya Zondo, Okuhle Cele, Daryn Dupavillon Robbie Frylinck, Keshav Maharaj (C), Prenelan Subrayen, Sibonelo Makhanya

Dolphins Actual Playing XI:

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

Titans Preview

A long two-week break would mostly hamper any side's rhythm and it remains to be seen whether Titans can hit the ground running quickly. The team wouldn’t have preferred this break as they had won their last two matches.

Overall, Titans' batting has been solid with the experienced Dean Elgar in pretty good form. His hundred in the last game played a huge role in Titans beating Cape Cobras. Apart from him, the likes of Tony de Zorzi, Farhaan Behardien and Grant Thomson have also been very useful.

Although the team struggled with its bowling in the first two matches, off-spinner Imran Manak along with Tshepo Moreki has done decently to put together a decent attack in the absence of someone like Lungi Ngidi. Manack, in particular, was superb against Cobras with a four-wicket haul. Fast-medium bowler Corbin Bosch who replaces Dayyaan Galiem also came up with a pretty tight spell.

Titans Predicted Playing XI:

Henry Davids, Tony de Zorzi, Grant Thomson, Dean Elgar (C), Heinrich Klaasen/Victor Mahlangu, Farhaan Behardien, Rivaldo Moonsamy (WK), Imran Manack, Tshepo Moreki, Alfred Mothoa, Corbin Bosch

Titans Actual Playing XI:

DS Rosier, Alfred Mothoa, Dean Elgar, Imran Manack, Junior Dala, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Farhaan Behardien, GM Thomson, Aiden Markram, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The Dolphins have played only match at the Kingsmead Stadium in this tournament and they won that pretty comfortably against Knights. Batting was not straightforward and spinners like Shaun von Berg, Imran Tahir and Keshav Maharaj all posed massive problems. This could be the theme once again for the match against Titans. Durban has always been notorious with respect to its weather and predictably rain has been forecast on Thursday. There is a 40 % chance for thunderstorms and this might result in a shortened game.

Venue Details

The Kingsmead Ground which was established way back in 1923 is one of the most popular stadiums in South Africa. The venue's easterly location often results in matches being interrupted due to bad light or inclement weather.

Toss: To Bat

It is always safe to post a total on the board at Durban since the spinners can strangle the opposition batsmen in the second innings. The Knights struggled against the Dolphins' spinners in the only match to have been played here so far.