Both the Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal and Hollywoodbets KZN Inland selectors have announced strong squads for the upcoming Provincial T20 Cup starting this weekend as a number of Hollywoodbets Dolphins players take up positions in the two squads.
Photo: Hollywoodbets KZN Inland (Gameplan Media)
The KZN Inland team have been perennial achievers in the competition that was previously known as the Africa T20 Cup, winning it in 2017, and under new management of former Proteas T20 player Yusuf Abdullah the team will be starting afresh this year.
The experienced Kyle Nipper will be in charge of leading the team as he has done in the past and he will look to the likes of Proteas T20 players Rob Frylinck and Mangaliso Mosehle along with vice-captain Luke Schlemmer for guidance when they begin their campaign in Kimberley on Friday against South Western Districts.
Talking about the experience in the squad Schlemmer mentioned the importance of the senior players in guiding the new members of the squad.
"We have got a lot of franchise players coming down into the side from a franchise level and it brings the level of the rest of the squad up," Schlemmer said. "A lot of the younger guys are learning quite a lot from the more senior players and they are excited to play with these guys.
"We give the senior players the role of making the youngster feel welcome because I think if you feel comfortable with those players then you gel into the squad a lot better."
From a Coastal's perspective they have always played solid cricket in the competition, however with the competition having such strict qualification criteria you have to be on top of your game throughout the group stage to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
The Coastal side have a strong blend of youth and experience with the likes of Dolphins players Calvin Savage, who will captain the side, Prenelan Subrayen, Marques Ackerman and Daryn Dupavillon mixed together with young quick Lifa Ntanzi, batsman Thamsanqa Khumalo and all-rounder Andile Mogakane.
Savage hopes that his side can play consistent cricket throughout the competition, because that is what is needed to qualify for the semi-finals.
"It is a high pressure situation with the group we are in and we are going up to Benoni to finish top of our pool," the captain said. "It is a tough pool but we are trying to just worry about ourselves because if we go and focus on the others then our focus shifts away from the job that we have to do.
"We are going to make sure that when we play on Friday that we are playing a very positive brand of cricket and we know that if we are trying to be positive then that is half the battle won."
Both sides get their campaigns underway on Friday with the Coastal side facing Central Gauteng in their first game while the Inland side take on South Western Districts.
For more information visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za
Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Squad:
Marques Ackerman, Khalipha Cele, Thula Ngcobo, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Jason Oakes, Blayde Capell, Michael Erlank, Daryn Dupallion, Prenelan Subrayen, Lifa Ntanzi, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Andile Mokgakane, Calvin Savage (Captain), Coach: Roger Telemachus, Assistant Coach: Thokozani Zulu, Manager: Kenneth Mafunga
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland Squad:
Robert Frylinck, Grant Roelofsen, Michael Booth, Gareth Dukes, Cody Chetty, Lwandiswa Zuma, Nduduzo Mfoza, Sohail Mahmoud, Kerwin Mungroo, Mangaliso Mosehle, Luke Schlemmer, Joel Veeran, Kyle Nipper (Captain), Coach: Yusuf Abdullah, Assistant Coach: Ahmed Amla, Manager: Victor Xhoseni.
Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Fixtures:
Friday, 13 September:
Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Central Gauteng Lions
Willowmoore Park A, Benoni
Saturday, 14 September:
Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Northerns
Willowmoore Park A, Benoni
Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Easterns
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Sunday, 15 September:
Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Free State
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland Fixtures:
Friday, 13 September:
South Western Disricts v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland
Country Club B, Kimberley
Eastern Province v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland
Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Saturday, 14 September:
Northern Cape v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland
Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Boland
Country Club B, Kimberley
Play-off Fixtures
Monday, 23 September:
Semi 1 - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 4
Semi 2 - Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3
Tuesday, 24 September:
Final - Winner Semi 1 v Winner Semi 2
More information can be found at www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
