Star Cape Town Blitz allrounder Vernon Philander has called on the team’s batsmen to step up their game.
Off the back of two defeats in the Mzansi Super League, the Blitz have slipped to fourth in the log - outside the playoff spots.
Their latest defeat was in front of the Blitz Brigade at Newlands on Sunday when they lost to neighbours Paarl Rocks by two runs after losing early wickets.
And Philander is well aware that coach Ashwell Prince’s manne can’t continue being swak and go down again if they want to make it to the playoffs in this year’s competition.
LEGEND: Cape legend Ashwell Prince will have to lead his men to more wins. Picture: BackpagePix.
Hosting Durban Heat at Newlands on Friday night (5.30pm), Philander says: “I think we disappointed ourselves with the start we had with the bat, losing so many wickets so early [against Rocks].
“That put us on the back foot because you ideally want one of your top five to kick on and score runs. We lost it with the bat.”
The Proteas veteran adds: “It’s always disappointing when you lose games.
NEEDS A BIG ONE: Blitz’s Malan. Picture: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix.
“There were fine margins in the last one, which was a good game of cricket, but unfortunately they (Paarl) came out on top.”
The Blitz will be counting on the stars at the top of their batting order, like Janneman Malan, Liam Livingstone and captain Quinton de Kock, who had set MSL 2.0 alight earlier in the competition when they fired.
If the Blitz think they have problems, they should take a look at opponents Heat.
POSITIVE: Dane Vilas is still positive his side can pull out a win. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix.
The Durbanites arrive in the Mother City still searching for their first win of 2019 after three washouts in their opening five games.
They lost the other two outings by going down to the same Cape opponents by 10 runs at Kingsmead, with their only other completed match seeing them lose by five wickets to the Giants, with just a ball to spare.
Both loses could easily have easily been wins and captain Dane Vilas knows that time is now almost up on their campaign.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/durban_heat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@durban_heatcaptain @DaneVilas that departs.
Big statement from the log leaders!
#MSLT20 pic.twitter.com/KqysHCkcx5
— Mzansi Super League 🔥 🇿🇦 🏏 (@MSL_T20)
He says: “The mood in the camp is really positive.
“It was a disappointing game that first one when we made a few mistakes and we were just unfortunate not to get over the line at the end.”