Rilee Rossouw will continue to put aside his niggling injury concerns on Sunday as the Chevrolet Knights travel to Bidvest Wanderers to take on the bizhub Highveld Lions in the eliminator of the RAM SLAM T20. Chris Gayle returns for Lions. Rossouw was withdrawn from the Proteas squad for Friday’s game against the Springboks at the same venue, but has made himself available for the all-important clash with the Lions, which will decide not only who takes on the Cobras in the final, but who will be South Africa’s second representative in the Champions League Twenty20 next year.
“Rilee injured the ring finger on his left hand in a fielding drill in Australia, and he’s been struggling with it since he got back,” said Knights captain, Werner Coetsee. “I think he played with it in the last few games over there as well, but luckily for us he’s happy to play on this weekend.”
Quinton Friend remains sidelined with his hamstring problem and so the Knights will go into the match with the same squad that took on the Lions in Wednesday’s game in Kimberley - a match that Coetsee felt his side took plenty from.
The Knights racked up 186 for seven in their 20 overs, before rain halted the game with the Lions 22 without loss in reply.
The Lions will welcome Chris Gayle back into their line-up on Sunday, with the West Indian overcoming his back troubles to form a fearsome opening partnership with Quinton de Kock.
“It is a formidable combination, but at least if they are the opening partnership then the tail looks a bit longer and it makes that partnership all the more important,” said Coetsee.
However, the Lions have been excellent at the Wanderers in this competition, comfortably beating the Dolphins and the Cobras, and captain, Neil McKenzie, expects the home support to give them a lift.
“The crowd in Johannesburg has always been a great support to the team and we are looking forward to giving our best for our loyal supporters,” McKenzie said.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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