Handed the captaincy on the eve of the playoffs, Joburg Super Kings skipper James Vince is banking on the team’s renewed confidence and positive mindset as they prepare to face Paarl Royals in the SA20 eliminator on Thursday.
Joburg Super Kings head into the knockout clash on the back of a commanding 44-run win over Paarl Royals in their final league fixture, a result Vince believes has come at the perfect time.
Vince was elevated to the leadership role after injuries ruled out Faf du Plessis and Donovan Ferreira, forcing the franchise into a late change at the top.
“It’s a new day, a new game and new conditions,” Vince said on Wednesday. “What happened a couple of days ago gives us confidence. That win came at a really good time because we needed it, and we’d been on a bit of a tricky run.”
He added that the victory had restored belief within the squad. “The confidence is back in the group, and that’s really important heading into a knockout.”
Vince stressed that Joburg Super Kings have never depended on individual brilliance alone, with contributions spread across the squad throughout the tournament.
“There have been contributions from pretty much the whole squad. In a 10-game competition, you can’t expect everyone to fire at the same time. Different players have stepped up at different moments, and that’s been a real strength.”
The English batter said his focus remains firmly on controllables rather than opposition threats.
“They’ve got quality players, but that’s the case with every team in this competition. Everyone has match-winners. We’re aware of their strengths, but the main focus is on what we can control and what we can do well.”
Reflecting on the team’s response to injury setbacks, Vince added, “Losing Faf and then Donovan wasn’t ideal, but the way the group stepped up in a must-win game was really pleasing.”
Meanwhile, Paarl Royals batter Dan Lawrence played down his side’s recent defeats, insisting the team remains confident ahead of the eliminator.
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“I don’t think we played bad cricket in our last match,” Lawrence said. “Sometimes you just have one of those days where nothing goes your way. In this competition, you’re never going to play 10 perfect games.”
Paarl Royals enter the eliminator after back-to-back losses, but Lawrence believes his side was competitive in patches and lacked just one decisive contribution.
“We were probably one batting contribution away from making it a really tight game. For tomorrow, it’s all about turning up and being fully focused on the job.”
Lawrence added that the Royals have done their homework on Joburg Super Kings and are confident in their preparation.
“We’ve analysed their batters and bowlers closely, so we know what to expect. That helps you plan better. If we turn up and play to our potential, I’m very confident we’ll be fine.”
(By PTI Inputs)
