Photo Credit: Dolphins Cricket
As the new domestic structure in South African cricket approaches, the first competition has been finalised and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins have been drawn in Pool C and the Hollywoodbets Tuskers in Pool B for the upcoming CSA T20 Knock-Out Competition.
The competition features all of the Division One and Division Two teams split across four pools with the Dolphins being drawn in a group with Easterns, North West as well as the South African Under 19 side.
For the newly formed Tuskers, representing KZN Inland, they will fight it out with Mpumalanga, the Itec Knights and the Momentum Multiply Titans.
The Tuskers will face off against these three sides in the group from 28-30 September in Bloemfontein.
The group stages of the competition for the Dolphins will take place from 8-10 October also in Bloemfontein where they will face all the other sides in the pool with the top two teams from each pool going into a quarter-final.
For Hollywoodbets Dolphins coach Imraan Khan it’s exciting to see that cricket is almost back as the players ramp up their pre-season preparation
“We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work during this off-season and pre-season and are really keen to get back out on the park,” Khan said.
“To be drawn in a group with Easterns, North West and the SA Under 19 team is exciting and it’s going to be a difficult group to qualify from.
“To finally see that the upcoming season is starting to take shape is a great thing for us and we cannot wait to get going.”
The Dolphins lost in the final of the Betway T20 Challenge last season but this year the competition will include all of the side from Division Two as well as the national under 19 side might make things different.
“We know that T20 cricket can change so quickly so every team is going to be dangerous,” Khan commented.
“It’s crucial that we put together strong performances across all of the group games because you can come unstuck quite easily in T20 cricket.”
For Tuskers coach Michael Smith he knows how difficult the last period has been for cricketers around the country and is eager for his side to show the country what they can offer.
“The Tuskers are extremely excited for the upcoming campaign,” Smith said. “First and foremost ahead of any competition we are going to play the guys are just really keen to get back and play some cricket.
“The competition is a great opportunity for our players to play against sides like the Knights and the Titans and it’s a great chance for our players to test themselves against the best in the country.”
CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom echoed the sentiments of both coaches as he hopes to help guide the union into the new era of domestic cricket.
“The team and the coaching staff of both the Dolphins and the Tuskers are itching to get going and they’re excited to head into this new structure of domestic cricket in South Africa,” Strydom said.
“The Dolphins have been given a tough draw and the side will have to play well to get through the group stage of the competition.
“The Tuskers are up against two tough Division One sides which will test their ability and we are confident that they can prove their stature against them.”
