Sipamla and Viljoen keeping Super Kings in field of play
FAST bowlers Lutho Sipamla and Hardus Viljoen have been the unlikely heroes for the Joburg Super Kings, keeping the team in with a shot at qualifying for the knockout stage of the SA20 following their heroic performances against the defending champions at the Bullring on Sunday.
The two quicks came into the Super Kings side as replacements. They were not even first-choice replacements after the Super Kings lost four quicks, which forced them to call on Sipamla and Viljoen to fill in.
However, Sipamla and Viljoen have stood out in the pressure moments, taking 13 wickets between them, including a match-winning seven wickets against Sunrisers Eastern Cape this past weekend. Going into their fixture against the Pretoria Capitals in Centurion Tuesday night, captain Faf du Plessis will be counting on Sipamla and Viljoen to help the team get a step closer to securing a spot in the knockouts.
Speaking to the media following their nine-wicket victory at home on Sunday, Sipamla revealed that it is because of clarity from the coaches and captain that they have been able to step up and lead the bowling attack at such short notice.
"I think it's clarity, especially from the bowling coach, the captain and from the head coach. The biggest word that we have going on is 'clarity', making sure everybody knows what role they have to play," said Sipamla.
"(Having lost so many players to injury) you'd probably think from the outside that it's chaotic (within the team environment) but the nice thing is that the coaches have stayed very calm. They've been really clear in what they are trying to get through to us individually and holistically as a bowling unit.
"That's the biggest word I have to say – 'clarity' – and that's what's helped us and what's helping us at the moment as a bowling unit."
The 26-year-old added that staying disciplined to his processes has also played a role in his success in the tournament thus far.
"I'm just trying to stick to a process that I'm trying to follow every single game," he said.
"Whether it comes off in terms of outcomes, I'm really not too bothered by that. I'm just trying to be as consistent as I can with my process ball-by-ball. I think that's what's helping at the moment.“
Sitting in fifth place in the standings, one spot below the Super Kings, the Pretoria Capitals need the victory to keep their hopes of progressing into the knockouts alive.
The encounter is set to get underway at 5.30pm at SuperSport Park.