Cricket
Dragons to focus on small moments against Province─── MORGAN PIEK 08:34 Tue, 22 Oct 2024
The North West Dragons remain confident and upbeat ahead of their CSA T20 Challenge Eliminator in Potchefstroom on Wednesday night.
The Dragons finished third on the log after losing by 5 runs to the Lions on Saturday, and they have to play in the Eliminator against Western Province on Wednesday night and should they win, they will have to play in Friday’s second Qualifier.
On Tuesday night the Lions will host the Titans in Johannesburg in the first Qualifier with the winner going straight through the final. The loser in turn will get another bite at the cherry by going into the second Qualifier.
The Dragons batter Rubin Hermann told OFM Sport that they will continue backing themselves.
“It was a seriously close game on Saturday and the guys played some really good cricket,” said Herman.
“Maybe it was just a battle of some small moments and stuff like that, and I think we just didn’t win enough of those in such a close game.
“You can always find those small losses in moments here and there that add up over the course of an innings. It’s just a game where it’s one or two things that didn’t go our way. We’re playing some good cricket, and we’ve got a very strong and very good squad throughout this tournament.
“I think the tournament has shown how close we are as a group and how different players are standing up at different times to get us this far. It’s a sign of a good cricket team when the games are as tight as they are, especially against the defending champions.
North West Dragons. Photo: Dragons
“I’m sure we’re doing the right things and moving in the right direction. It’s just a matter of the next game. Winning those small key moments and the result will follow from there. It’s just about trusting the processes what we’ve been doing and what’s been making us successful.
“Then there are some exciting match-ups against Province on Wednesday. The boys are excited that we are well prepared. We’ve already beaten them once this season. It’s just a question of doing it again.
“It’s a bit of a different path that we have to take by having to win three cricket games for a trophy instead of just two. It’s been done before. There’s no real reason why we can’t do it. Like I said, we’ve got a very good cricket team, a very strong squad.”
Tuesday night’s Jukskei derby between the Lions and Titans at the Wanderers gets underway at 18:00. On Wednesday the Dragons will entertain Province at the JB Marks Oval.
