From the iSport Champions League Pavilion: iSporter Akshay Iyer pens an in-depth match analysis between the Warriors and the Bushrangers. He believes that the Chevorlet Warriors stand a good chance of securing a place in the semi-final of the Champions League. What do you think?
Davey Jacobs led by example with the bat and in the field as Chevrolet Warriors outplayed the more fancied Victoria Bushrangers by 28 runs in a Group ‘A’ league match of the Champions League T20 at Port Elizabeth on Monday night.
Jacobs, in fact, got it right at the toss as well as the Warriors took first strike and it was the captain’s brisk half-century that laid the foundation for the South African club side’s winning total of 158 for 6. The Bushrangers never got going in the run chase and ended up scoring only 130 for 9 as the Warriors recorded their second win of the tournament.
Jacobs came into the Champions League with the reputation of being a fantastic leader and an attacking batsman, and so far he has lived up to that billing. His audacious onslaught on Dirk Nannes in the first over of the match was one of the highlights of the Warriors vs Bushrangers match. Jacobs then moved his focus onto Shane Harwood hitting some delightful boundaries in the process. He was also the dominating half of the opening partnership against the Bushrangers with Ashwell Prince playing the sheet anchor role.
Though Nannes came back strongly from the initial onslaught against him, Jacobs was not to be denied as he hit nine boundaries and a massive six in his 39-ball knock of 59 before he was run out following a misunderstanding with Prince. While most batsmen would have been livid with their partner at the other end, Jacobs gave Prince the thumbs-up while walking back to the dugout indicating there is no bad blood between them. This in essence has been the hallmark of Jacobs’ captaincy at the Warriors over the last two seasons – while being confident in his own abilities, he has also ensured his teammates have the same confidence to steer the team forward.
While Jacobs was going strong in the middle, it did look as though the Warriors would post a total in excess of 175-180, but a strong comeback from the Bushrangers’ bowlers, especially Clint McKay and Andrew McDonald, in the middle overs pegged the home team back. The Warriors’ score of 158 was also thanks in part to the 40 runs partnership for the fifth wicket between Mark Boucher and Johan Botha.
South African pace discard Makhaya Ntini took the first two Bushrangers’ wickets including that of Brad Hodge as the Warriors took a stranglehold of the match. Though in all fairness, Hodge’s wicket should probably be credited to Jacobs who timed his jump to perfection to take a blinder at mid-on.
Aaron Finch and Bushrangers’ captain David Hussey then tried to consolidate the run chase and were fairly successful at doing so for a while. Finch, who is considered to be a rising star in Australian domestic cricket, was going great guns before Jacobs took a stunning flying catch wide of extra cover off the bowling of Nicky Boje, to wrest back the initiative for the Warriors.
Hussey and McDonald tried to get the Bushrangers back into the game, but it was match over when Justin Kreusch clean bowled Victoria’s captain. Juan Theron then dismissed McDonald and Matthew Wade within three balls of each other as the Warriors took full control of the match before going on to the win.
The Warriors have a formidable bowling line-up in the pace department with Theron, Ntini and Lonwabo Tsotsobe sharing fast bowling duties while Boje and Johan Botha put the opposition batsmen in a spin. The Warriors also have a strong batting line-up led by Jacobs and Colin Ingram with support from Prince, Boucher and Botha. The team’s ground fielding makes the Warriors one of the most balanced sides in the Champions League Twenty20.
The Warriors are now almost assured of a spot in the semi-finals as their remaining two matches in the league stage are against Central Districts Stags and Chennai Super Kings. While CSK could be a tough opposition for the Warriors, the Stags shouldn’t possess too much threat to Jacobs and his team.
Jacobs, in fact, got it right at the toss as well as the Warriors took first strike and it was the captain’s brisk half-century that laid the foundation for the South African club side’s winning total of 158 for 6. The Bushrangers never got going in the run chase and ended up scoring only 130 for 9 as the Warriors recorded their second win of the tournament.
Jacobs came into the Champions League with the reputation of being a fantastic leader and an attacking batsman, and so far he has lived up to that billing. His audacious onslaught on Dirk Nannes in the first over of the match was one of the highlights of the Warriors vs Bushrangers match. Jacobs then moved his focus onto Shane Harwood hitting some delightful boundaries in the process. He was also the dominating half of the opening partnership against the Bushrangers with Ashwell Prince playing the sheet anchor role.
Though Nannes came back strongly from the initial onslaught against him, Jacobs was not to be denied as he hit nine boundaries and a massive six in his 39-ball knock of 59 before he was run out following a misunderstanding with Prince. While most batsmen would have been livid with their partner at the other end, Jacobs gave Prince the thumbs-up while walking back to the dugout indicating there is no bad blood between them. This in essence has been the hallmark of Jacobs’ captaincy at the Warriors over the last two seasons – while being confident in his own abilities, he has also ensured his teammates have the same confidence to steer the team forward.
While Jacobs was going strong in the middle, it did look as though the Warriors would post a total in excess of 175-180, but a strong comeback from the Bushrangers’ bowlers, especially Clint McKay and Andrew McDonald, in the middle overs pegged the home team back. The Warriors’ score of 158 was also thanks in part to the 40 runs partnership for the fifth wicket between Mark Boucher and Johan Botha.
South African pace discard Makhaya Ntini took the first two Bushrangers’ wickets including that of Brad Hodge as the Warriors took a stranglehold of the match. Though in all fairness, Hodge’s wicket should probably be credited to Jacobs who timed his jump to perfection to take a blinder at mid-on.
Aaron Finch and Bushrangers’ captain David Hussey then tried to consolidate the run chase and were fairly successful at doing so for a while. Finch, who is considered to be a rising star in Australian domestic cricket, was going great guns before Jacobs took a stunning flying catch wide of extra cover off the bowling of Nicky Boje, to wrest back the initiative for the Warriors.
Hussey and McDonald tried to get the Bushrangers back into the game, but it was match over when Justin Kreusch clean bowled Victoria’s captain. Juan Theron then dismissed McDonald and Matthew Wade within three balls of each other as the Warriors took full control of the match before going on to the win.
The Warriors have a formidable bowling line-up in the pace department with Theron, Ntini and Lonwabo Tsotsobe sharing fast bowling duties while Boje and Johan Botha put the opposition batsmen in a spin. The Warriors also have a strong batting line-up led by Jacobs and Colin Ingram with support from Prince, Boucher and Botha. The team’s ground fielding makes the Warriors one of the most balanced sides in the Champions League Twenty20.
The Warriors are now almost assured of a spot in the semi-finals as their remaining two matches in the league stage are against Central Districts Stags and Chennai Super Kings. While CSK could be a tough opposition for the Warriors, the Stags shouldn’t possess too much threat to Jacobs and his team.
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