Confident Lions lock horns with Red Backs

Centurion:

South African domestic champions Highveld Lions, who sprung a major surprise by beating IPL runners-up Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener on Friday, take on South Australian Red Backs on Sunday.

Led by Alviro Petersen the Lions will once again seek inspiration from their home crowd to create another upset.

Although not as star-studded as Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai, the Red Backs have some in-form players such as Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris and skipper Michael Klinger.

Pacer Shaun Tait leads their bowling attack which also leg-spinner Cullen Bailey.

For the Lions, Jonathan Vandiar was their top-performer with the bat against Mumbai making 71 against fine bowling attack that included established stars like Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh.

The reliable Neil McKenzie would also be expected to carry on the form he showed while notching up an unbeaten 43-ball 56 yesterday.

Against the formidable batting line-up of Mumbai, the Lions' bowlers held their own rather well with Shane Burger picking up two wickets, that too of Tendulkar and the aggressive Kieron Pollard.

(With PTI inputs)