We’re excited to bring you an in-depth preview of all three Momentum One Day Cup matches hitting the grounds nationwide on Friday, 5 January.
The entire set of six franchises are locked and loaded for Momentum One Day Cup battles this Friday, with the headline grab certainly being the thrilling encounter between WSB Cape Cobras and the Multiply Titans.
Away in Kimberley at the Diamond Oval, the VKB Knights will clash with the Bizhub Highveld Lions, while the Warriors host our very own Hollywoodbets Dolphins in Port Elizabeth.
Titans vs Cobras | Friday 5 January 2018 | SuperSport Park Centurion | 13:30
Match Winner Odds
Titans 53/100 | Tie 35/1 | Cape Cobras 31/20
The action kicks off at SuperSport Park, Centurion, where the top-of-the-table Titans take on the Cobras. The home side comes into this fixture with plenty of momentum following their commanding 32-run win over the Lions on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Cobras have been resting since 23 December and will be eager to dust off the cobwebs early in Centurion. They did clinch an impressive win against the Warriors at Oudtshoorn, highlighted by Pieter Malan’s 84 off 116 balls and George Linde’s remarkable bowling figures of 9.1-1-47-6 on a turning pitch.
Prediction: Multiply Titans 53/100
The Titans should have the edge at home against a Cobras side coming off a break. We reckon backing the hosts at 53/100 is a smart add to your weekend multiples.
Knights vs Lions | Friday 5 January 2018 | Diamond Oval, Kimberley | 13:30
Match Winner Odds
Knights 92/100 | Tie 35/1 | Lions 92/100
Next, we’re headed to the Northern Cape, where the VKB Knights hope to secure their first win of the season against the Bizhub Highveld Lions. The Free State side has had a slow start, having played just once with a lacklustre performance against the Titans on 22 December.
Nicky Boje has assembled a formidable squad including Marchant de Lange, Eddie Leie, Ryan McClaren, David Miller, Duanne Olivier, Rudi Second, and Shadley van Schalkwyk. They have plenty of firepower but need some wins to shake off a tough limited overs season.
The Lions, meanwhile, struggled against the Titans. Their fielding let them down and the batting was underwhelming, falling short by 32 runs chasing 264. Coach Geoffrey Toyana will be keen to see his middle order convert starts into match-defining scores.
Prediction: VKB Knights 92/100
This promises to be a tight contest, but we give the slight nod to the Knights. Their squad is one of the best in the competition and we expect them to edge this one out.
Warriors vs Dolphins | Friday 5 January 2018 | St George’s Park, PE | 13:30
Match Winner Odds
Warriors 1/1 | Tie 35/1 | Dolphins 82/100
Lastly, down in Port Elizabeth, the Warriors take on their eastern rivals, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, at St George’s Park. Predicting the Warriors’ form is always challenging as they show inconsistency, highlighted by a stellar six-wicket win over the Lions followed by a heavy 67-run loss to the Cobras.
However, their strong home potential on a tricky batting wicket can’t be underestimated.
The Dolphins will be hungry for improved results after a superb 26-run victory over the Cobras was followed by a heart-breaking last-ball loss to the Lions. A key concern is the absence of Vaughn van Jaarsveld, who dislocated a finger during training. Sarel Erwee is expected to slot in and aims to rediscover his excellent form from the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Prediction: Hollywoodbets Dolphins 82/100
This is a tricky call, but we favour the Dolphins on paper. Given the Warriors’ unpredictability, backing the Dolphins for an away win is a sensible gamble.
