CENTURION: The two most consistent sides of the tournament would be seen locked in a battle of supremacy on Saturday when table-toppers South Australia Redbacks take on an impressive Warriors in the second semifinal of the Champions League Twenty20.
Michael Klinger led Redbacks were the only team in the tournament to win all four of their group matches, while South Africa's Warriors won their first three matches before losing to Chennai Super Kings, which plays another IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore in the other last-four clash.
For Klinger's men, everything have fallen in place so far but they would have to guard against complacency before tomorrow's tough encounter at the Centurion Park.
With 213 runs at an amazing average of 71.00, Klinger is one of the most important factors the Redbacks find themselves in the semifinals and the skipper will have to fire once again if the Australian side have to replicate the success of New South Wales, who won the inaugural edition of the league held in India last year.
With the top-order in good form, strength of their middle-order was also tested in their match against Guyana where Callum Ferguson and Cameron Borgas delivered under pressure, scoring 55 and 48 runs respectively.
Ferguson has so far notched two half-centuries and scored 129 runs at an average of 43 and the Redbacks would be hoping he delivers once again on SAturday.
Redbacks would also be hoping to have Australian pace spearhead Shaun Tait back in their line-up ahead of the crucial tie after he missed the final group game against Guyana due to an elbow niggle.
Tait is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with six victims in three matches at an average of 14.33 and his presence would mean a lot for Redbacks, who can use him to stop the furious Warriors' captain Davy Jacobs, whose bat has so far yielded 191 runs at an impressive strike rate of 141.
Thanks to the start given by Jacobs, Warriors have got 50-plus in first six-over batting powerplay until their last game.
The opening pair of Jacobs and Ashwell Prince have provided balance to the side and their veteran wicket-keeper Mark Boucher has given the much-needed support lower down the order.
Warriors bowling line-up includes South Africa Test pacemen Makhaya Ntini and Lonwabo Tsotsobe and experienced spinners Johan Botha and Nicky Boje and captain Jacobs would be expecting another all-round performance from them to break Redback's batting line-up.
While Ntini and Tsotsobe both generate enough pace to frighten the top-order of any team, the spin duo of Botha and Boje are also capable of strangling the opposition in the middle overs.
Michael Klinger led Redbacks were the only team in the tournament to win all four of their group matches, while South Africa's Warriors won their first three matches before losing to Chennai Super Kings, which plays another IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore in the other last-four clash.
For Klinger's men, everything have fallen in place so far but they would have to guard against complacency before tomorrow's tough encounter at the Centurion Park.
With 213 runs at an amazing average of 71.00, Klinger is one of the most important factors the Redbacks find themselves in the semifinals and the skipper will have to fire once again if the Australian side have to replicate the success of New South Wales, who won the inaugural edition of the league held in India last year.
With the top-order in good form, strength of their middle-order was also tested in their match against Guyana where Callum Ferguson and Cameron Borgas delivered under pressure, scoring 55 and 48 runs respectively.
Ferguson has so far notched two half-centuries and scored 129 runs at an average of 43 and the Redbacks would be hoping he delivers once again on SAturday.
Redbacks would also be hoping to have Australian pace spearhead Shaun Tait back in their line-up ahead of the crucial tie after he missed the final group game against Guyana due to an elbow niggle.
Tait is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with six victims in three matches at an average of 14.33 and his presence would mean a lot for Redbacks, who can use him to stop the furious Warriors' captain Davy Jacobs, whose bat has so far yielded 191 runs at an impressive strike rate of 141.
Thanks to the start given by Jacobs, Warriors have got 50-plus in first six-over batting powerplay until their last game.
The opening pair of Jacobs and Ashwell Prince have provided balance to the side and their veteran wicket-keeper Mark Boucher has given the much-needed support lower down the order.
Warriors bowling line-up includes South Africa Test pacemen Makhaya Ntini and Lonwabo Tsotsobe and experienced spinners Johan Botha and Nicky Boje and captain Jacobs would be expecting another all-round performance from them to break Redback's batting line-up.
While Ntini and Tsotsobe both generate enough pace to frighten the top-order of any team, the spin duo of Botha and Boje are also capable of strangling the opposition in the middle overs.
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