Preview: An enterprising batting line-up has been Auckland's strength by Asher Wilson

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Scorecard:	Auckland v Titans
Event:	Champions League 2012/13

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DateLine: 17th October 2012

 

Titans vs Auckland Aces
Match Preview
Champions League T20

 

After winning their respective opening games, Titans and Auckland Aces battle it out in a bid to go top of Group A in the ongoing Champions League T20, with the match scheduled to be played at Kingsmead, Durban, today, October 17, 2012.

 

The two teams have mainly one thing in common – limited resources. However, their exceptional displays in the early part have put their players under notice and both camps will be eager to cement their hold in a tough group.

 

The Auckland team are something of a surprise package having won both of their qualifiers to make the tournament proper and then thumping Kolkata. Azhar Mahmood, the Pakistan all-rounder, is their talisman and he saw off the IPL champs with a brilliant display. He took three wickets, a catch and then hit an unbeaten 51.

 

An enterprising batting line-up has been Auckland's strength and this was revealed in match against KKR with good contributions coming from the top order even though the target to chase was not huge. No changes are expected to be necessary to a winning combination but the team will look to the lower-middle order to gear up for the remaining matches, having done little so far owing to the prowess at the top.

 

Auckland side is bursting with confidence following an impressive run of wins. Their victory have been driven by superlative bowling contributions from the experienced seam duo of Kyle Mills and Azhar Mahmood, and the top-order efforts of Martin Guptill, Lou Vincent and Mahmood again.

 

The Titans, on the other hand, is also a team which relies on joint efforts instead of individual brilliance given the absence of big names. The only match they have played so far in the event was the tournament-opener against Perth Scorchers. It was a clinical performance with both the bat and ball.

 

Jacques Rudolph shone at the top with a brilliant unbeaten 83 that set the foundation for a big score and the bowlers did the rest of the job, stifling Perth batsmen with incisive spells in familiar conditions.

 

Alfonso Thomas and Roelof van der Merwe provided a routine performance, picking up a wicket each and restricting the run flow, but the pick of the bowlers was Cornelius de Villiers, whose figures of 4-0-16-3 firmly placed his team in front, despite the resilience offered by half-centurion Mitchell Marsh.

 

They will also look the lower order for some meaningful contributions at the death, and further hope to make full use of the home advantage.

 

This will be the first game at Durban, following matches at Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town. The pitch will offer the usual pace and bounce, but showers are expected to ruin the proceedings. The city has had its fair share of rain over the past 12 hours and more it forecast. Toss will hold key if the D/L method comes into play.

 

But being the home team, Titans will have the slight edge even though Auckland, making their CLT20 debut this year have also adjusted remarkably after arriving quite early for the tournament.

 

Teams:

 

Auckland: GJ Hopkins, AR Adams, Azhar Mahmood, MD Bates, B Cachopa, C de Grandhomme, MJ Guptill, RM Hira, AK Kitchen, MJ McClenaghan, BP Martin, CS Martin, KD Mills, C Munro, L Vincent

 

Titans: M van Jaarsveld, F Behardien, H Davids, AB de Villiers, CJD de Villiers, PL Harris, HG Kuhn, ER Links, NE Mbhalati, M Mosehle, RR Richards, JA Rudolph, AC Thomas, RE van der Merwe, D Wiese

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2012 Pakistan Cricket Website)