The NMB Giants will look to take one step closer to the playoffs when they come up against the Durban Heat at Kingsmead in their Mzansi Super League fixture on Wednesday (7pm).
The Giants are coming off an 81-run hammering at the hands of the Jozi Stars at St George’s Park where Reeza Hendricks blew them out of the water with a second consecutive hundred.
The loss was a setback, but by no means catastrophic and the Giants remain one of the favourites to make it to the playoff stage.
However, they will need to win at least of one their last three matches, if not two, and that makes Wednesday’s result crucial in the long run.
Bolstering the Giants’ cause is the timely addition to their ranks of Englishman Jason Roy.
The globetrotting, explosive right-hander returns to the city of his birth on Wednesday looking to make an impression for this week’s team of choice after completing a stint with the Bengal Tigers in T10 League in the UAE at the weekend.
The Heat will also have allrounder Rashid Khan arriving from the same tournament and it could come down to which one of the two international marquee players performs the best on the day.
Giants captain Jon-Jon Smuts is not too fazed by their most recent result. The Giants have mostly performed well in the event and Smuts was at peace with getting a bad performance behind them.
“To be honest, you probably actually want to lose a few games,” he said. “I’d hate to win 10 on the trot and then slip up when it counts. You know you are always good to lose one or two.
“I suppose the good thing about this format is that individuals can win games.”
Smuts knows that competition for the three top qualifying spots will be tight down the final straight.
The Durban Heat are placed last on the log and that in itself is a mystery considering they can field a team full of internationals at any given time.
It is surprising they have only won one game in six and the Giants will be hoping they do not choose Wednesday evening to click as a unit.
“I feel all six sides are all still very close. I still feel there may be a few results that might shock people when it comes to the last few group games of the tournament,” Smuts said.
“There are going to be a few changes happening in terms of the log positions. It is still very interesting.”
Heat coach Grant Morgan is relieved to gain the services of Khan.
“There is no doubt Rashid is going to add firepower to our bowling attack,” Morgan said.
“I think we have bowled relatively well in this tournament so far, so if he adds more muscle it augurs well for us.”
The Heat are up against it in the qualifying stakes and need to win their remaining matches to stand any chance of making the top three.
“We might tweak one or two things to try to get that mojo going, but you don’t change your modus operandi or your attention to detail.
“There will not be a lack of preparation and effort from everyone involved and we will go out there and try and win every game,” Morgan said.
He will also be hoping to avenge the Heat’s loss to the Giants in PE in the first round.