Africa T20 Cup the start of new era in KZN cricket

THE opening round of the 2016 Africa T20 Cup from today to Sunday at the Pietermaritzburg Oval signals the start of the domestic season in the province, while it also represents the start of a new era for cricket in the region.

KwaZulu-Natal Inland play host to North West, Western Province and Namibia for Pool A’s group stage clashes and having reached the final in the tournament’s inaugural edition last year, the team from the capital are eager to put in a strong showing in their own backyard this weekend.

Up against North West today, Western Province tomorrow and Namibia on Sunday, the side knows all too well they will have their work cut out for them but also bring good confidence with them having been the pacesetters at provincial level during the 2015/16 across all formats.

Dolphins coach, Grant Morgan – standing in for regular KZN Inland coach, Shane Burger, who is doing duty with the national A team in Australia – is, however, confident the men from Maritzburg have what it takes.

“We’re now the guys other teams are chasing and so, yes, the pressure is on us to perform but we want that pressure; we’ve earned it!” says Morgan. “Like us, the other sides have named some strong squads, each with a couple of match-winners, but that’s what you want – the better the teams that come to Pietermaritzburg, the greater the opportunity for our guys.”

Having taken the reins of KZN’s franchise side in May, Morgan has put in endless hours behind the scenes with many of the Dolphins, KZN and KZN Inlands players alike during the off and continuing pre-season.

Having recently returned from an off-season stint in England, Sarel Erwee will again captain the KZN Inland team this weekend, with Mbasa Gqadushe – who took over from Erwee last season during the regular skipper’s Dolphins call-up – waiting in the wings if needed.

Two games take place daily from 9.45am to 1pm and 1.15pm to 4.30pm. Sarel Erwee (captain), Craig Alexander, Tshepang Dithole, Mbasa Gqadushe, Graham Hume, Sohail Mahmoud, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Attie Maposa, Lefa Mosena, Kyle Nipper, Ruhan Pretorius, Mthokozisi Shezi, Vaughn van Jaarsveld