Dolphins feel pinch without KP's runs

18 November 2015 - 02:14 By Khanyiso Tshwaku

The Dolphins' unbeaten Ram Slam T20 Challenge bubble has been burst. However, that is something their coach, Lance Klusener, is not worried about. Fresh from an overseas sojourn with the Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne cricket jamboree in the US, Klusener had fresh perspective following the team's five-wicket loss against the Cape Cobras at SuperSport Park.The Dolphins will start life without the tournament's current highest run-getter in Kevin Pietersen.The slow-cooking Titans are in town for a top-of-the-table clash at Kingsmead tonight, with the teams equal on points after five matches.Klusener hopes his charges adapt to life without their marauding export, who laid waste to all before him.While Pietersen feasted on the bowling, his counterparts shrivelled."Having Kevin around and scoring all those runs was awesome, but we need guys to stand up and be counted in his absence," said Klusener."They will have to come from the guys who haven't had all the opportunities to bat and time in the middle, guys like Cody Chetty, Khaya Zondo and Morné van Wyk."The Titans come into the game on the back of a five-wicket win over the Warriors in the second game on Sunday.Under Rob Walter, the Titans have developed a nasty habit of being terrible starters in limited-overs tournaments.It is about how they finish and the fact the old-and-young opening duo is finding form at just about the right time points to how the Titans are peaking.A Dolphins team with Ryan McLaren, Dwayne Bravo and Andile Phehlukwayo gives the Dolphins an all-round look.What will not happen again is Phehlukwayo opening the batting. Klusener also expects Bravo to deliver the goods."Dwayne's played a lot of cricket around the world and he's not under pressure."It's all about him adapting to the conditions."..

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