Wihan Lubbe praises Pretoria Capitals' coaching staff after victory over MI Cape Town

Pretoria Capitals batter Wihan Lubbe praised poised coaching staff following their bonus-point victory against MI Cape Town at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Lubbe helped the Pretoria Capitals to a bonus-point victory against the MI Cape Town on New Year’s Eve, helping the Capitals register their first victory of the tournament following losses against the Joburg Super Kings and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

Alongside the likes of Lubbe, Shaun Pollock and Sourav Ganguly are in charge of the coaching reins, helping the side to navigate the tournament in hopes to win their first ever SA20 trophy.

Lubbe expressed that it is a dream playing under the likes of Pollock.

“Firstly, I think for us who grew up watching them it's still an honour to have them as coaches. Sometimes, you still have to pinch yourself type moments but it’s awesome in the sense that they've experienced everything that we go through,” Lubbe said,

“They know the pressures, they know the thinking and what's nice about that is they don't over complicate things. They allow you to almost simplify it in a way they don't go technical, they're just trying to get your headspace nice and clear. That’s about it.

“Mandla (Mashimbyi), our whole coaching staff I think the main message, there's a lot of info to a certain point and then it's just simplifying and being clear when we go out to perform”

The Pretoria Capitals put on a very competitive 220/5 at Newlands on Wednesday.

Lubbe emphasised that the wicket at Newlands has been conducive for batters.

“I think it's been playing a bit better even during the domestic season, the (CSA) T20 competition here has been quite high-scoring so they're obviously doing something right in terms of creating a good cricket wicket for the batters,” Lubbe said.

“Domestically, and obviously during the last couple of SA20 games been high-scoring games obviously there's a one-sided shorter boundary so that helps but you know they seem to have been preparing a touch better batting wickets it's not as dry as what I remember from previous years so maybe that that plays a bit of a role but it's definitely been good to bat on.”

Lubbe also praised the Dewald Brevis for smashing a 13-ball 36 on Wednesday and Sherfane Rutherford for striking a 15-ball 47 and winning the Player of the Match Award.

“I think it's something special even for us to watch from the side,” said Lubbe.

“It’s something that domestically or even in the SA20 we haven't witnessed so for Brevis and Sherfane to do what they did at the end gives us a lot of momentum going into the bowling inning so yeah we over the moon I think we enjoyed it just as much as anyone.”