NO EASY ROUTE IN AFRICA T20 CUP
Pool D clashes ‘ toughest of all’
ASEMIFINAL berth will be up for grabs when the first phase of the Africa T20 Cup concludes this weekend as Pool D plays out 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 be joining North West, Northern Cape and Zimbabwe in the semifinal, which along with the final, is scheduled for a yet-to-be-confirmed venue next weekend.
“I must say we’re really excited to have been chosen to host this pool,” home coach Johann Louw said.
“That honour is really exciting for the locals and hopefully they’ll turn out in their numbers to support us.
“I think it’s going to be very tight, as we’ve seen in the other rounds. I feel we have the edge because we’re at home, but I think whoever can adjust to the conditions fastest will be right up there come Sunday.”
Boland, whose squad includes the likes of Justin Ontong and Stiaan van Zyl, open up with a contest against KwaZulu-Natal today, before facing EP and Gauteng tomorrow and on Sunday respectively.
Coaches of both of their weekend rivals, Sandile Masengemi and Piet Botha, felt it was the toughest pool of the lot.
“I think we’re in the toughest group, there’s no doubt about that,” Gauteng coach Masengemi said. “But we’re ready for the challenge.
“The preparations have not been as smooth as we would have liked due to a few challenges, but we’ve adapted now and are prepared.”
Botha concurred on the dynamic of the group, but said they had no complaints.
“It’s an extremely tough group, but it’s good in a way,” EP coach Botha said.
“Everyone will be under the same pressure and it will make for good cricket.
“We were quite happy to be drawn on the last weekend because it gave us a little more time to prepare. We feel we are ready.”
The Gauteng team boasts premier names like 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.
KwaZulu-Natal, who feature Cameron Delport, Keshav Maharaj and Robbie Frylinck, are coached by former Proteas fast bowler Roger Telemachus.
Telemachus 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 if we can do that then we’re a very good team as well.”
There will be two matches each played today, tomorrow and on Sunday with an evening game scheduled on the first two days. Sunday’s matches are day games.
The weekend matches will also be televised on SuperSport.