There is just one sole match from the Ram Slam T20 on Sunday and it is a really big match as the two sides immediately vying for the final playoff spot meet in Johannesburg when the Lions take on the Cape Cobras.
The defending champions Cape Cobras currently occupy the final spot in the playoffs but the Lions are only four points below them in the table and will go above their rivals here with a bonus point win with just two matches left in the group stage so this really is a crucial game.
The Lions go into this match off the back of a disappointing defeat to the Knights in their last match. They need to get back on the horse quickly if they are to keep their hopes of another title alive.
The Cobras edged out the Knights in their last match to boost their confidence and if they can win this match they will all but secure a semi-final spot with a couple of matches still to play in the group phase which would be a decent achievement.
One of the problems for the Lions in this campaign has been scoring runs and that will need to change over their last three matches if they are to progress to the latter stages. On the flip side their bowlers have regularly done the business so they don’t need much more to be really competitive.
The Cobras have been dealt the blow that Kieron Pollard will be out for the rest of the competition with injury. That will put a decent amount of emphasis and pressure on the likes of Richard Levi, Justin Ontong and Rory Kleinveldt to deliver the goods from now on.
The match odds are quite even here but I don’t see it that way. If anything I think the Cobras will win this with a bit in hand purely because of the Lions’ struggles with the bat. Although the Cobras missing Kieron Pollard isn’t ideal they have enough in their ranks to get this one done in his absence.
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