Johannesburg – Highveld Lions coach Geoffrey Toyana hopes his team can win silverware in this year's Ram Slam T20 Challenge final after two near misses in the past.
“We've played well the whole season, so we are really hoping we'll be lucky this time and pull through,” Toyana said.
The Lions were finalists in the Champions League T20 last year, shared the Momentum One-Day Cup with the Cape Cobras and lost out to the Western Cape franchise on the last weekend of the Sunfoil Series.
The final of the T20 Challenge will be played at the Wanderers Stadium next Sunday, and the Highveld Lions will be hoping for sunny weather next weekend.
“You can't control the weather, but we hope it does stay away, even with the reserve day there, we really hope it stays away,” Toyana said in reference to the One-Day Cup final at the same venue.
Hardus Viljoen destroyed the visitors' top order, claiming 4-37
in seven overs before rain brought an end to proceedings with the Cape Cobras on 63 for four.
The Lions will only know who their opponents will be on Wednesday evening when the Warriors take on the Titans in the qualifier at Buffalo Park in East London.
“We have given the guys a couple of days off so that they can enjoy the Easter weekend with their families, so we are not really taking anything into account with regards to our preparation,” Toyana said.
“I really think that the three teams in the play-offs have been consistent this year and played some good cricket.
“We just want to wish the Titans and the Warriors good luck for Wednesday. Then, whoever we meet on Sunday, we must just make sure, on the day, that our skills are good because we have won one and lost one against both teams, so it should be a good match.”
The Lions won both their home matches, beating the Titans by seven wickets in Johannesburg and then winning by 47 runs against the Warriors in Potchefstroom.
The losses were by narrow margins of seven and four runs respectively, at SuperSport Park and Buffalo Park.
“The spirit is high in the camp. We would have had 10 days off by the time the final comes around so we are having a practice match at the Wanderers on Friday, and then we will take it from there,” he said.
“We missed (Sohail) Tanvir in the last game as he had to go back to Pakistan for some personal issues, but he will be back for us for the final.”
In a turn of events, prior to the knock-out matches, Herschelle Gibbs signed for the Titans to replace New Zealander Scott Styris, who is no longer available for the team.
“He is a very experienced player, he will be massive for them and he will add value to the young guys in their team,” Toyana said about Gibbs' signing. – Sapa