The Rocks are well-rested ahead of the championship match, having secured direct qualification for the final after finishing at the top of the log. 

Their only defeat in the campaign came against the Knights in Bloemfontein, while one of their matches ended in a no-result. The Western Cape side’s results this season speak for themselves, and their consistency has undoubtedly been their biggest strength.

Boland captain Clyde Fortuin told OFM Sport that their consistency has been key, and they will be looking for more of the same when they take on the high-flying Dolphins.

“I think the group we have is unbelievable – there’s a lot of respect among the players. The way we’ve handled team selections and adapted to different venues has been consistent throughout the season.

“We’ve stuck to a formula and an approach we set out at the beginning of the season. With a big squad, there have been some changes here and there, but we’ve gone with a ‘horses for courses’ strategy.

Aviwe Mgijima. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I think we’ve been consistent in how we’ve done things, taking each game as it comes and never looking too far ahead. Even in that game in Bloemfontein, we probably left about 25 runs out on the field, which ended up being the difference in the match.

“There’s mutual respect in the team, which allows us to have those tough conversations when we fall short. We know when we haven’t been good enough, and it’s about identifying those areas and learning from them rather than repeating mistakes.

“In previous seasons, we were often guilty of making the same mistakes in consecutive games. The focus now is on learning quicker and improving. But at the heart of it all, our biggest strength has been consistency in everything we do.”

Sunday’s final between Boland and the Dolphins at Boland Park is set to start at 13:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh