Prince backs young guns Malan and Bedingham to fill Cobras middle-order void

SA Domestic

The Cape Cobras bowling attack has got what it takes to run through sides and win matches. A key to that is that the bowlers should bowl fuller lengths than last season said the captain, Dane Piedt.

He was speaking at a press conference on Friday as the Cape Cobras continued their preparations for the opening 4-Day Franchise match of their season, against the Knights at Newlands starting on Monday 1st October.

When probed what is required to win the competition, Ashwell Prince, the coach, said you need to take 20 wickets but he believes the Cape Cobras have the arsenal to run through sides.

“(The decision to part ways with) Wayne Parnell was a bit unexpected but there are capable players stepping into that position. Rory Kleinveldt might have played less of a role, but now he will play a greater role. And there are other players who can step up, like Jason Smith, Dayyaan Galiem and Ferisco Adams.”

Prince was unperturbed about the young inexperienced squad that the Cape Cobras have selected for the Knights. “I am excited. I think there are four to five of those players that can go on and represent South Africa. Perhaps we will see that happening within the next two to three years,” he said.

Prince added that for most of last season, this young inexperienced batting squad did the business, so not much has changed.

In the 2017/2018 season, the Cobras batsmen scored a phenomenal 13 centuries, which is quite special when one remembers that two of the three senior batsmen in the side, Andrew Puttick and Justin Ontong, played only a limited part in the four-day competition.

Piedt said Dane Paterson and Kleinveldt will lead the attack and they bowl a fuller length, which will make it easier for the other bowlers to follow their example.

Image result for david bedingham

Prince said David Bedingham and Janneman Malan have phenomenal talent. The Cape Cobras fill the vacuums in the side from the bottom upwards, but in the case of Malan, his statistics suggest that he could fill the void left by the departure of Puttick and Richard Levi in all formats of the game.

Piedt said: “Last season we created opportunities with the ball, but did not execute them. We have done the hard preparation but ultimately it is about having the right attitudes to take chances and effect the run-outs. It is a vital part of the game.”

The loss of Parnell will give Kleinveldt a new opportunity as a bowling all-rounder. He is a live wire with the bat and was sensational in the shorter formats with the ball last season, while he took 50 wickets for Northamptonshire last season.

Piedt has improved by leaps and bounds with the bat last season so the Cape Cobras looks in a good position to score totals of 450 and beyond.

If Piedt’s confidence in the bowling line-up is vindicated, the Cobras will break their five-year drought in terms of four-day silverware this season.

The 13-man squad of the Cape Cobras is: Dane Piedt (capt), David Bedingham, Tladi Bokako, Zubayr Hamza, Rory Kleinveldt, Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan, Aviwe Mgijima, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Dane Paterson, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams

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