Lions vs Dolphins, Momentum One Day Cup, Today Match Prediction 23 Mar 2019

lions vs dolphins Match Prediction & Analysis

In the 30th and the last league game of the Momentum Cup 2019 Lions would play against Dolphins at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. It has been a contrasting season for the two sides. While the Dolphins have already earned their place in the semi-finals of the season for Lions it has been a season they’d like to forget struggling at the bottom of the points table at the moment. 

In the earlier game of the season the Dolphins had comfortably won against the Lions and they would be looking to repeat that success. As for the Lions they would be looking to end what has been a miserable season on a winning note.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Lions Preview

Temba Bavuma would have been extremely happy with the last game’s win against the Titans. The fact that it came against the best team of the season would make it even more special. As they play their last game the side would like to bow out of the tournament in style. 

Kagiso Rapulana and Dominic Hendricks played wonderfully in the last game stitching an opening stand of 135 runs for the side. Wihan Lubbe and Wiaan Mulder also batted well in the middle but skipper Bavuma missed out. The side has been plagued by inconsistency in its batting this season and they would be looking to turn it around in the next game and set up a win for the side. 

The Lions bowling attack held its nerves in the last game to win a closely fought game against the best batting line-up. Their three main bowlers Bjorn Fortuin, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder kept the scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Malusi Siboto also did well in the game and they would look to continue with the same form in the next game.

Lions Predicted Playing XI:

Dominic Hendricks, Kagiso Rapulana, Wihan Lubbe, Temba Bavuma (c), Wiaan Mulder, Nicky van den Bergh (wk), Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Aaron Phangiso, Malusi Siboto, Nandre Burger

Lions Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Phangiso, Ryan Rickelton, Dominic Hendricks, Willem Mulder, Wihan Lubbe, Bjorn Fortuin, Delano Potgieter, Nandre Burger, Kagiso Rapulana, Temba Bavuma, MP Siboto

Dolphins Preview

After suffering three straight losses Khaya Zondo’s team made a strong comeback in the last game against the Warriors to register a nine wicket win. Having made it to the knockouts the side would be hoping to win the next game and carry momentum into the semi-finals. 

Vaughn van Jaarsveld has been in great form this season and so has been his opening partner Sarel Erwee who cracked a hundred in the last game. The rest of the batting order also looks strong with Marques Ackerman, Dane Vilas and Khaya Zondo looking in great form at the moment. They would like to treat this as a practice game and prepare for the semi-finals in style. 

Okuhle Cele bowled incredibly well in the last game picking up 3 wickets. Keshav Maharaj also returned to form bowling a tight spell which will add confidence to his side. Prenelan Subrayen, Eathan Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy complete a good bowling line-up for the team going into the next game.

Dolphins Predicted Playing XI:

Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas (wk), Prenelan Subrayen, Keshav Maharaj, Khaya Zondo (c), Sibonelo Makhanya, Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, Marques Ackerman, Okuhle Cele, Eathan Bosch

Dolphins Actual Playing XI:

P Subrayen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Eathan Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Sarel Erwee, Senuran Muthusamy, DJ Vilas, Marques Ackerman, Okuhle Cele, Khaya Zondo, VBV Jaarsveld

Weather Conditions

There would be slight cloud cover over Potchefstroom on the 23rd of March and this would make the ball do a bit. There would also be some lateral movement off the surface making it challenging surface to bat on. The team batting first would be comfortable with a score of around the 280 run mark.

VENUE

The shorter square boundaries at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom makes it a good ground for big hitters of the ball. But the ball also tends to move in the air and off the surface which evens it out between the batsmen and the bowlers. The ground has seen good contests over the years.

Toss: To Bat

Most teams have preferred to bat on this surface and set a score for the opponents. The shorter boundaries make it a good pitch to set up a big score and make the opponents chase. Despite the prediction for cloudy conditions the team winning the toss would prefer to bat first on this pitch.