Lions place their fortunes in Bjorn
Young spinner the talk of the team ahead of Warriors clash
TWENTY one year old left arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin is set make his debut in the RamSlam this evening, hoping to live up to the optimistic assessment of his abilities made by his teammates and coaches.
The bizhub Highveld Lions have lost their last two matches, but according to skipper Thami Tsolekile there is no pressure on his young side as they clearly have an eye on the future.
That’s not to say they won’t be scrapping for every run in Port Elizabeth where they play the Warriors tonight or Bloemfontein where they face the Knights on Sunday – just that the players have a certain perspective about their expectations in the competition.
“We thought, look, there is no Champions League and we wanted to use this format to build (for the future),” said Tsolekile. “There aren’t a lot of expectations, but in saying that the guys who we have been giving opportunities to have been doing very well at amateur level, guys like; Andre Malan, Bjorn, Devon Conway and Rassie van der Dussen.”
The Lions have proven in their opening three matches, that they are not in the competition to make up the numbers. They have played, what Tsolek- ile described as the three strongest sides and beat the Cape Cobras, lost by a single run to the Dolphins and then put up a terrific scrap in defending a mediocre target against the Titans last Friday.
“I don’t want to say we must improve because we batted badly in one game, it would also be unfair to say we must improve the bowling because we only bowled badly in the last three overs in Durban where we conceded 65 runs. In that last game (against the Titans) we bowled very well, we were one wicket away from winning that game.”
The Lions have relied heavily on spin twins Eddie Leie and Aaron Phangiso to front their efforts with the ball.
Phangiso has picked up seven wickets – second only to the Dolphins’ Prenalen Subrayen’s eight – and his economy rate of 4.00 is comfortably better than any other bowler in the competition. “We’ve used them in different ways and ja, they are bankers for us, but this kid (Fortuin) who is getting his chance soon will also become a banker for us,” Tsolekile mused.
Fortuin has certainly impressed everyone at the Lions with his attitude and skill and is expected to get his chance in what are usually slow and low conditions at St George’s Park. Fortuin has played one match for the franchise, the opening game of the Momentum OneDay Cup against the Cobras, where he picked up 1/43 in 10 overs. He showed excellent control and an ability to change strategies as the situation demanded. His fielding was very special, too.
Fortuin will most likely open the bowling, meaning the Lions will have to drop one of their quicks.
That will make for an interesting selection meeting in PE today and if they do go into the match with just two seamers, Hardus Viljoen, who bowled very well against the Titans, will probably sit out because Dwaine Pretorious’ batting is too valuable.
Tsolekile said much of his side’s planning will centre around one player in the Warriors line-up. “They rely a lot on Colin Ingram to bat through. We will look to do everything in our power to get him out quickly.
“With due respect to the other guys if you can get him out cheaply it’s difference between them scoring 180 or 130.”