The Lions will play the Guyanese team from the West Indies in the 14th game of the Champions League T20. The match will be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. >
The Lions won their first game against the Mumbai Indians, but then lost to the South Australian side. With South Australia already through to the semi-final, they know that the side is fighting for that lone spot in the semi-finals – and the fight is against the likes of Bangalore and Mumbai. mage>
Lions have one win from two games, the same as Bangalore, while Mumbai has one from three. Lions play Guyana in this game followed by Bangalore in the next one, while Mumbai plays Bangalore in their last encounter. This raises the possibility of a three-way tie between Mumbai, Bangalore and Lions. Having said that, not even Guyana is out of the competition, given that the side can still win their remaining two games and try and qualify for the semi-finals from behind.
However, coming back to the game on hand, the Lions will need to bat much better than they did in the second game. it will be an easy game alright, but the last thing that the Lions need is complacency; given that the Guyanese had run Mumbai close in the previous game that they had played in. In this format of the game, the side would do well to realise that one small mistake or a couple of dropped catches can change the complexion of the game so drastically, that the Lions will beware.
Guyana need to get their better batsmen batting up the order. Travis Dowlin has simply not looked the part and will need to be either replaced in the side or sent down at number six or seven where it is easier to score the runs.
The Guyanese bowling does have the pace and bounce to test the opposition, and that is why the batsmen will need to take the onus onto themselves. Lions will be favourites to win this one, but for something drastic.