CSA: Warriors, Eastern Cape Iinyathi raring to go in new-look season

Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa

Following an exciting start to the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Provincial T20 Knock Out competition that marked the beginning of a new chapter of South African cricket, attention now turns to Pool D which gets underway in Kimberley this week.

Pool D features the Gbets Warriors, who will start their campaign against fellow Division One side, GbetsRocks, in the opening game of the pool on Monday at 10h00. This will be followed by an all-Division Two clash between Eastern Cape Iinyathi and Limpopo Impalas from 14h30 in the second match of the doubleheader at The Oval, Kimberley.

These four teams will be vying for the top two spots in the pool, to join the Six Gun Grill SWD (Pool A), Six Gun Grill Western Province (Pool A) as well as the ITEC Knights (Pool B), and the Momentum Multiply Titans (Pool B) in the quarter-finals taking place in a fortnight.

Warriors head coach, Robin Peterson believes the preparation has been successful and his players have worked tirelessly to get ready, despite missing a few members through injury and playing overseas cricket, with Marco Jansen (Indian Premier League) and Dane Paterson (County Cricket).

“The preparations have gone well. All the players have worked really hard on their fitness, their skills, their mindset and just trying to bring it all together as a team and get everybody aligned about how we go about our business. We are missing a few key players but that just makes it exciting to test our depth,” stated Peterson,

“The new restructure is exciting, it’s just about us hitting the ground running as a group and as a province, and ensure we play some good cricket and enjoy T20 cricket because that’s what it is all about.”

Paul Adams, the newly appointed head coach at Eastern Cape Iinyathi, echoes Peterson’s sentiments about the new domestic setup, emphasising its benefits for younger players, before stating his side is also ready to get started following the extended break. 

“The new structure is going to provide the opportunity to be able to see a lot more talent in our country. It’s an exciting time, especially for younger players, for them to be rubbing shoulders with the more experienced players,” said Adams.

“We are raring to go. It has been a long wait, especially with the pandemic. The players are chomping at the bit to get out there and play. We are ready, we are prepped and we have been clicking well as a team and just excited to get out there.”

The Rocks have enjoyed previous success in T20 cricket under their Mzansi Super League guise of the Paarl Rocks, claiming the title in 2019. Although the team looks completely different this year, head coach Adrian Birrell believes they still have the same ambition and quality in the side, including internationals, to produce good results in the CSA Provincial T20 Knock Out.

“The team has a good blend between experience and youth,” noted Birell. “We have obviously got some really good international players in the mix with the likes of Christiaan Jonker, Janneman and Pieter Malan, and then we have the experience of Ferisco Adams, Imraan Manack and Shaun von Berg.

“We’ve got all the bases covered and really looking forward to seeing how they gel as a team and we’re very excited for what lies ahead.”

Meanwhile, Impalas head coach Dumisa Makalima believes that the work they’ve put in during the off-season, focusing on their strengths, will give his team the best chance of success in the step-up in the level of cricket.

“Over the last four months we have been working together as a team. We got to bond as a team, and we really focus on our strengths and weaknesses. We sat down and devised a strategy that works for us as a unit, which was our focal point.

“As a coaching staff, we really pushed them to the limit in terms of what is expected at this level, bearing in mind that most of them have not really played at this level. It’s an opportunity for them to not be scared, express themselves, back their ability to play and most importantly, enjoy it,” concluded Makalima.

The competition is currently being broadcast live on SuperSport with commentary available in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa. The competition is also being broadcast globally on Free Sports (UK) and Fox Sports (Australia), and live streamed via FanCode (Indian sub-continent).

Live updates are available on the CSA App, which is downloadable on IOS and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play.

Gbets Warriors: Sinethemba Qeshile (Captain) Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Jacobs, Wihan Lubbe, Edward Moore, Alindile Mhletwya, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Tshepo Ndwandwa, Lesiba Ngoepe, Dieg Rosier, Rudi Second, Kabelo Sekhukhune, Jon Jon Smuts, Tristan Stubbs, Glenton Stuurman, Tiaan Van Vuuren

Gbets Rocks: Pieter Malan (Captain) Ferisco Adams, Janneman Malan, Ruan Terblanche, Christiaan Jonker, Clyde Fortuin, Sinalo Gobeni, Hlomla Hanabe, Imraan Manack,  Achille Cloete, Siyabonga Mahima, Zakhele Qwabe, Ziyaad Abrahams, Khanya DIlima, Shaun von Berg

Eastern Cape Iinyathi: Jerry Nqolo (Captain), Jerome Bossr, Clayton Bosch, Phaphama  Fojela, Sean Jamison, Thomas Kaber, Bongolwethu Makeleni, Mncedisi Malika, Marco Marais, Thandolwethu Mnyaka, Jason Niemand, Nqaba Peter, Gideon Peters, Joshua van Heerden, Nonelela Yikha

Limpopo Impalas: Thomas Hobson (Captain), Ludwig Kaestner, Nyiko Shikwambana, Amir Bux, Juandre Scheepers, Ntokozo Mahlaba, Sithembile Langa, Sahil Patel, Thami Rapelego, Khaif Patel, Malcolm Norfal, Don Radebe, Atwel Mokgolobotho, Morne Venter,

Full list of Pool D fixtures below. All matches will be played at The Oval, Kimberley.

Monday, 04 October 2021

Gbets Rocks vs Gbets Warriors at 10:00

Eastern Cape Iinyathi vs Limpopo Impala at 14:30

Tuesday, 05 October 2021

Limpopo Impalas vs Gbets Warriors at 10:00

Eastern Cape Iinyathi vs Gbets Rocks at 14:30

Wednesday, 06 October 2021

Limpopo Impalas vs Gbets Rocks at 10:00

Eastern Cape Iinyathi vs Gbets Warriors at 14:30

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