Knights v Warriors Prediction

The 12^th edition of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge will be fought between six teams in South Africa. The tournament commenced in 2003-04, was titled as Standard Bank Pro20 Series, renamed as Miway T20 Challenge in 2011-12 and finally turned into Ram Slam T20 from 2012-13 season. The teams taking part in the event are, Cape Cobras, Dolphins, Knights, Highveld Lions, Titans and Warriors. Titans are the most successful team so far with three trophies to their name while Dolphins became the champions of 2013-14 after defeating Cape Cobras in the final by two mere runs at Cape Town on February 9, 2014.

Knights were placed fifth in the previous event with 14 points and they will take over Warriors who claimed the fourth spot after securing 20 points. The first will be led by Werner Coetsee in the new season while Colin Ingram is the skipper of Warriors and both units will appear in the opening game of Ram Slam T20 Challenge, 2014-15.

Players to watch

Reeza Hendricks was the highest run getter for Knights last year while Rillee Rossouw, Pite van Biljon, Gerhardt Abrahams and Diego Rosier are their competent batsmen. Werner Coetsee and Andre Russell are class all-rounders whereas Malusi Siboto, Pite van Biljon, Corne’ Dry and Johannes Diseko will form a nice bowling unit.

JJ Smuts displayed a fine all round performance in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, 2013-14 for Warriors by scoring 239 runs and grabbing nine wickets. Davy Jacobs, Ryan Bailey, Christiaan Jonker and Colin Ingram can bat with aggression. Rusty Theron, Lundi Mbane, Wayne Parnell Simon Harmer and Andrew Birch are their lethal bowlers.

Time & Venue

Sunday, November 2, 2014 @ 08:00 GMT, 10:00 local at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The venue with a capacity of 34,000 was established in 1956 and is the home ground of Highveld Lions.

Weather

Partly cloudy with the temperatures around 15-28ᵒC.

Toss

The winning captain will prefer to bat as has been done majority of times in the previous tournament.

The Pitch

The surface has suited the pace bowlers mostly and the batsmen will find it hard to score freely.

Teams

Knights – Werner Coetsee (C), Gerhardt Abrahams, Tumelo Bodibe, Gihahn Cloete, Johannes Diseko, Corne’ Dry, Dillon du Preez, Quinton Friend, Reeza Hendricks, Duanne Olivier, Obus Pienaar, Diego Rosier, Rillee Rossouw, Andre Russell, Rudi Second, Malusi Siboto, Pite van Biljon, Shadley van Schalkwyk.

Warriors – Colin Ingram (C), Ryan Bailey, Colin Ackermann, Andrew Birch, Athenkosi Dyili, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Davy Jacobs, Christiaan Jonker, Craig Kieswetter, Sisanda Magala, Vuyisa Makhaphela, Lundi Mbane, Thandolwethu Mnyaka, Solo Nqweni, Wayne Parnell, Michael Price, JJ Smuts, Rusty Theron, Basheeru-Deen Walters, David White.

Prediction

Warriors will be the most possible winners in the first encounter.