The SP Super Series Twenty/20 champions Brian Bell have set their sights having another title in the basket when the one day series gets underway on Sunday.
The one day super series which commences this Sunday May 4 will be a whole new ball game with players adjusting themselves from the fun thrilled and entertaining twenty-20 version to a more serious 50 overs one day matches.
The two matches will start at 10am with Brian Bell meeting the unpredictable Steamships Hardware at Amini Park and Telikom Titans hoping to start their campaign with a win against Trukai Invincibles at the Colts Grounds.
The one day tournament will include six rounds including three weekends of finals starting on June 15 with all the matches played at the Colts and Amini Park respectively.
“We are well prepared for the 50 over matches and yes we will be carrying that 20/20 champion tag over with us,” said Brian Bell captain and Coach Rarua Dikana.
“Our confident level is quite high and the boys have found some good form lately and I’m quite pleased that the young ones are putting their hands up for the occasion and the senior players are also leading by examples.
“It’s also good to see the senior and junior players playing together which is turning out to be a big success, hopefully the guys can continue doing that and be pumped for the next game.
“The 20 over matches have really helped us in identifying our strengths and weaknesses and we have a fair idea of how to handle the pressure in the 50 over matches.
Dikana also said the inclusions of reserves Sebastian Kone from KCC and Toua Gamu from Poreporena cricket club was a big relief to the team after the departure of its two inform player’s bowler Jacob Mado and batsman Vani Vagi Morea.
“The two new players who came on as replacements, I will be looking at their fitness because its down at the moment and the first game will be usually made of players the featured in the twenty-20 matches.
“There might be some changes, Joel Tom has been moved up and will be spearheading the bowling attack because he has shown good leadership role and has a great bowling depth.
“Jamie Iga has also been promoted up the batting order but has to over come a leg injury before I can be sure of him opening the batting for us on Sunday.
“But I’m confident Jamie will play on Sunday after a good recovery session on Tuesday, I told them that our focus mood will change to 50 overs now by concentrating on the techniques and skills of one day and advising them that now they have to stay out there as long as they can.
Trukai Invincibles captain John Ovia said that twenty/20 is gone and it’s a fresh new start for his side that have taken a surprise twist in the supers series with a disappointing loss to Steamships Hardware in the 3rd and 4th playoffs last Sunday.
“Finishing fourth in the twenty/20 series was never really on my mind but 50 overs is a new ball game and we will be starting fresh and forget about what happened in the 20/20 matches and focus on the one day tournament.
“We will do everything right the simple things right, our batting is okay but we need to polish up a bit more and concentrate on the basics with bowlers needing more support in their bowling.
“Arua Uda has assured the team that he will be playing on Sunday after missing out last Sunday due top work commitments.
“Opening batsman Alfred Amini has been playing some good and excellent cricket lately, he just needs more momentum going, gets his footwork working nicely but I’m positive he can handle the 50 over matches well.
“The 20-20 series has been a learning experience for the whole team and we are determined to get the 50-50 under our belt and get on with it.
“I’m positive we will be able to do well in the one day because we had a good team talk and all the guys are positive about the one day matches ahead,” Ovia said.
Coaches from the four teams Brian Bell, Telikom Titans, Steamships Hardware and Trukai Invincibles have spent this week at training drilling their players and getting them adjusted for Sunday’s bumper matches.
Last Modified on 05/05/2008 12:20