SuperSport Series: Northerns look to lift log spot

After all a side which has a remarkable limited-overs record but has struggled to maintain a consistent performance in the SuperSport Series in recent summers is not the image the Titans want to present. But Kirsten hopes this will be corrected over the next four days during the replayh against Boland.

Having been moved from Paarl to Centurion because of the pitch problem which caused the abandonment of the previous game, Northerns are confident they can collect a victory as well as eight bonus points. It may seem a lot to ask a side who have battled to put big first innings totals together in the first two A Sectiongames.

But Kirsten has worked hard on this aspect of the game in a bid to overcome the problems and the psychological areas caused by an inability to handle the pressue against what was average bowling attacks in the fisrt two games. No dout this remark is likely to cause the odd eyebrow to be raised, but without Vasbert Drakes, Border have, despite their current top log position, not impressed when under pressure.

Border's true test is yet to come when they play Gauteng, whose inventive captain, Ken Rutherford, has a far better idea of how to handle upstart sides from the Eastern Cape.

What is as yet undedcided is whether Quentin Still is going to catch a game against Boland. The 22-year-old all-rounder has been close to selection a couple of times before and chances are he may open with Rudolf Steyn moving down the order. The problem is who to leave out of the 12. A far from easy choice.

As for Boland they arrive propping up the log with Natal and have not made too much of an impression this sesaon under the leadership of Ken Jackson. Despite all the hard efforts of Hylton Ackerman to get the best of of the side, they have had the sort of start they would prefer to forget.

Teams

Northerns: Rudolf Steyn, Mike Rindel, Deon Jordaan, Martin van Jaarsveld, Gerlad Dros (capt), Dirkie de Vos, Quentin Still, Pierre de Bruyn, Grant Morgan, Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith, David Townsend.

Boland: Evert Ferreira, James Henderson, Juston Ontong, Kenny Jackson (capt), Sean Ackermann, Doug Gain, Steve Palframan, Donovan Koch, James Albanie, Henry Williams, Charl Willoughby, Jacques van Wyk.

Umpires: Dave Orchard and Wilf Diedricks.