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Vallie provides Warriors reinforcement

Warriors have called in the cavalry from as far afield as opposition territory in an attempt to jumpstart a season that has not got out of first gear

Firdose Moonda
Firdose Moonda
14-Nov-2014
Yaseen Vallie guides the ball away, Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd semi-final, Under-19 World Cup, Kuala Lumpur, February 29, 2008

Yaseen Vallie could not find a place in a strong Cobras batting line-up  •  Getty Images

Warriors have called in the cavalry from as far afield as opposition territory in an attempt to jumpstart a season that has not got out of first gear. The Eastern-Cape franchise have signed Cobras player Yaseen Vallie on loan for the rest of the Ram Slam tournament, in which they have lost their opening three games.
Vallie has played 26 T20 matches for Western Province and the Cobras combined for an average of 24.53 and while those numbers may not appear standout, his experience as a former South African Under-19 player is hoped to add something to a flailing Warriors squad.
"He'll bring some freshness and intensity, so hopefully he can spark off a few things for us," Piet Botha, Warriors' coach, said.
Warriors' batting has been their major problem across all formats this season. In the first-class competition, they lost both their opening matches because of batting collapses and only managed one total over 250 in four innings. In the one-day cup they lie at the bottom of the table with four defeats - three of them came chasing - and a single victory. And in T20 they have not made more than 150 in three innings with two totals under 135.
Craig Kieswetter has been their mainstay and the only batsman with a half-century. Both his fifties were in losing causes which leaves Warriors needing a complete turnaround to remain alive in the competition.
"We're in a situation where we need to win six out of the seven remaining games but, if we can remain positive, then there's no reason we can't pull it off," Botha said.
Unlike Titans, who have also lost all three matches thus far, Warriors are not struggling because of international commitments but a lack of players in general. Only Wayne Parnell is on national duty which leaves them at almost full strength which, evidently, is not strong enough.
That is why they have scoured the rest of the country for replacement places and Vallie, who is struggling to find a place in a Cobras line-up that includes Richard Levi, Andrew Puttick, Kieron Pollard, Dane Vilas and Sybrand Engelbrecht, was available.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent