Russell Domingo, coach of the Central Gauteng Lions, is hopeful that a suitable cricket wicket will be prepared for the 4-Day Domestic Series final against Western Province.
The five-day match is scheduled to commence at the Wanderers on Wednesday at 10 am and will be broadcast on SuperSport channel 207.
The Lions clinched the top spot on the log after securing an away win against the Northerns Titans last week.
Although the Centurion pitch favoured the bowlers, Domingo expressed satisfaction with the surface. He expressed hope for a pitch that would produce a different outcome, but one that would be fair to both bowlers and batsmen:
“All I want at home for the final now is a good cricket wicket – one that rewards good batting and if you bowl well then you’ll get wickets. I will always advocate that because I believe the guys need to learn how to play long innings and how to dismiss batsmen on good pitches. We don’t want anything extreme and over five days I have no doubt we’ll get a result.”
Domingo may consider fielding five seamers and spinner Bjorn Fortuin following Lutho Sipamla's impressive return last week and the return of Duanne Olivier and Tshepo Moreki from Proteas Test duty in New Zealand.
The batting unit should be confident of scoring runs, especially with Zubayr Hamza back from Test duty and Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma also available.
Central Gauteng Lions squad:
Dominic Hendricks, Joshua Richards, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Duanne Olivier, Wandile Makwetu, Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton, Codi Yusuf, Mitchell van Buuren, Delano Potgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen, Muhammad Manack.