Africa T20 heads for Paarl

THE first phase of the Africa T20 Cup concludes this weekend when Pool D will be played at Boland Park in Paarl, starting today.

Hosts Boland are joined by KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Eastern Province, with the general consensus being that this is the toughest group of the lot in this year’s competition.

The winner will join North West, Northern Cape and Zimbabwe in the semi-final, which along with the final, is scheduled for a yet-to-beconfirmed venue next weekend.

Boland, whose squad includes the likes of Justin Ontong and Stiaan van Zyl, open up with a contest against KZN today, before facing EP and Gauteng tomorrow and Sunday respectively.

KZN, who feature Cameron Delport, Keshav Maharaj and Robbie Frylinck, are coached by former Proteas fast bowler Roger Telemachus and he said: “We’re up against three quality sides this weekend but we’re just focusing on trying to put it all together on our side because we believe that if we can do that then we’re a very good team as well.”

The Gauteng team boasts premier names such as Eddie Leie and Mangaliso Mosehle, while EP will be counting on the experience of Jon-Jon Smuts, Sisanda Magala and Colin Ackermann to aid their progress.

There will be two matches a day played today, tomorrow and Sunday with an evening game scheduled on the first two days. Sunday’s matches are both day games. – ANA