Proteas play in Pro20 semis

2008-04-16 16:13

Johannesburg - Spectators at the two Standard Bank semi-finals this weekend will be able to see some of the Proteas in action.

The biggest change will be to the Titans team, where fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and wicketkeeper batsman AB de Villiers have been included in the team.

"We've used our spin bowlers to good effect this summer," said coach Richard Pybus. "We've had good variety in the spin department, with Faf du Plessis and Imram Tahir our two wrist spinners, and Roelof van der Merwe with his orthodox left-arm spin. But it is great to have our fast bowlers back."

Pybus said he was particularly pleased with the progress made by Van der Merwe, who is also a very capable middle-order batsman.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but he's an exciting young cricketer," said Pybus. "He has a lot of confidence and he is a combative young player."

The players left out of the team for the semi-final are Andre Nel, Farhaan Behardien, Tahir and wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn.

Finished the league unbeaten

The Cape Cobras, who topped the log at the end of the league section of the Pro20, have included Proteas captain Graeme Smith and JP Duminy in their squad for their semi-final encounter against the Titans at Newlands on Sunday, with youngsters Richard Levi and Stiaan van Zyl making way for the senior players.

The Cobras could have called on the services of Monde Zondeki, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, but coach Shukri Conrad decided not to disrupt the continuity of the side that finished the league unbeaten.

Kallis and Boucher stayed on in India to join their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, although Smith said they had been disappointed not to have been asked to play for the Cobras.

The Cobras will be eager to exert their authority over the Titans. The Cobras were the only team to beat the Titans in the MTN domestic championship, but were eliminated from the competition when rain prevented any play in the semi-finals in Centurion. The Titans went on the win the title.

Only one Protea, Hashim Amla, will be in action in the first semi-final between the second placed Dolphins and third placed Diamond Eagles at Kingsmead on Friday night.

Amla has been included in the Dolphins side, but despite a wealth of talented players, the Eagles have no current Proteas in their side. They will be without big-hitting Loots Bosman who left last weekend to join his IPL franchise. The Dolphins won four of their matches and the Eagles three.

- SAPA