Race is on for a spot in the semis by Asher Wilson

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Scorecard:	Lions v Yorkshire
Event:	Champions League 2012/13

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DateLine: 20th October 2012

 

Highveld Lions v Yorkshire
Match Preview
Champions League T20 2012

 

With the knockouts stage of the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 fast-approaching, the race is on for a spot in the semis, and understandably there is a lot riding on today’s clash between the Highveld Lions and Yorkshire, the 13th match of the CLT20 2012 tournament, scheduled to be played at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, today, October 20, 2012.

 

Yorkshire remain in this competition by virtue of a washed out game against Mumbai on Thursday but unfortunately there was still time for Andrew Gale's side to suffer two more injuries to key players. Having already lost two key batsmen before the main part of the tournament had even begun, Yorkshire suffered two further injuries on the field when Moin Ashraf and Ryan Sidebottom pulled up while bowling in the Mumbai game. They look to be a struggling side but if they can find the form that took them through two qualifying matches, the side is not easy to beat.

 

The Yorkshire batsman have failed to step up to the mark so far, since they played in the qualifiers they have played 4 matches but only one half century has been scored. Garry Ballance is that one bat who got that half century but against the Sydney Sixers he only managed 8 but he faces a easier bowling unit than the Sixers this time around.

 

Yorkshire will look up to Phil Jaques, Gary Ballance and Adil Rashid to score the bulk of the runs. The team lacks stars in the bowling department and it is important that every individual who gets to roll his arm over comes good. With the pace duo of Ryan Sidebottom and Moin Ashraf suffering injuries in the match against Mumbai Indians last time out, the task would only become tougher for Yorkshire.

 

Yorkshire's spinners were the wicket-takers in the washed out match against Mumbai. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, off-spinner Azeem Rafiq and Joe Root picked up wickets. While Rashid returned with figures of two for 42, Rafiq accounted for two MI wickets. Root, who opened the bowling, conceded 26 runs in his two overs, but picked up the wicket of the dangerous Dwayne Smith.

 

With 2 wins from 3 matches under their belt, the Lions are perfectly poised to claim a spot in the semi-finals alongside the Sydney Sixers if they can manage a win today. If the Lions win today, the second match of the day, Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians, will become a dead rubber – however, if Yorkshire manage a victory, the competition for a spot in the semis will continue.

 

Having beaten both the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, before the Sixers brought their winning streak to an end, the Lions have emerged as one of the more prominent sides in this year’s edition of the CLT20, and are currently placed at number 2 on the Group B points table. Having proven adept at chasing, the Lions have a solid record in run-chases at the Wanderers, having won 10 of their 12 run-chases at the stadium.

 

The team's batting order has played a key role in their victories so far. With skipper Alviro Petersen and Neil McKenzie fortifying the line-up with their experience, teenager Quinton de Kock has also chipped in with solid contributions for the side. However, the undeniable star of the Lions’ batting line-up has been Gulam Bodi – the 33-year-old left-hander has contributed two vital half-centuries in the team’s last two games. While the team’s top-order looks solid enough, the only promising talent in the middle order so far appears to be Jean Symes.

 

Owing to the pace and bounce of the South African pitches, the Lions’ bowling attack has been led by left-arm pacers Sohail Tanvir and Dirk Nannes – while both have managed to claim their share of wickets, the duo has not been as economical as the skipper would have liked. In this regard, Aaron Phangiso has been the Lions’ unsung hero in their CLT20 campaign so far. Having claimed 6 scalps at an economy rate of 4 from 3 matches, the 28-year-old left-arm spinner has played a major role in bringing down the opposition’s batting order, in addition to keeping the run flow in check.

 

The forecast for the day is sunny, with expected temperatures of around 15 - 24° C. Driven by the need to move closer to a spot in the semis, both teams will be hoping no unexpected spells of rain intervene as they look to further their CLT20 campaigns.

 

Yorkshire: Andrew Gale, Moin Ashraf, Azeem Rafiq, Gary Ballance, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Dan Hodgson, Phil Jaques, Adam Lyth, David Miller, Steven Patterson, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ryan Sidebottom, Iain Wardlaw, Eddie Wilson.

 

Highveld Lions: Alviro Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Gulam Bodi, Zander de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Neil McKenzie, Pumelela Matshikwe, Chris Morris, Dirk Nannes, Ethan O'Reilly, Aaron Phangiso, Dwaine Pretorius, Sohail Tanvir, Jean Symes, Thami Tsolekile.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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