Cricket News

MiWay T20 Challenge : - Chevrolet Knights vs. Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras, 17 February 2012

2012-02-17

The team selected for the MiWay T20 match against the Cobras at De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley:

Rilee Rossouw Morne van Wyk (c/wk) Obus Pienaar Ryan Bailey Reeza Hendricks Ryan McLaren Werner Coetsee Johan van der Wath Romano Terblanche Jandre Coetzee Malusi Siboto Dillon du Preez

Team will be finalized before start of play.

Management:

Coach andndash; Sarel Cilliers

Fitness Trainer andndash; Adrian le Roux

Assistant Coach andndash; Adri Swanepoel

Physiotherapist andndash; Shaun Jankielsohn

CHEVROLET KNIGHTS READY FOR MiWAY T20 CHALLENGE

2012-02-13

"A double round competition gives players more opportunities and with the right combinations, the team are looking to perform at its best", said Chevrolet Knights Coach, Sarel Cilliers. "The team will aim to hit form early in the competition and will work to drive good momentum through this compact competition."

Knights CEO, Johan van Heerden commented: "The very versatile squad that we have selected, and with the high note on which we ended the SuperSport Series, the squad is confident going into the MiWay T20 Challenge. It would be very crucial to start well, as the games are very congested and it is important not to loose rhythm. This is the money spinner for all franchises and has become the most important tournament in South Africa."

The 16-man squad selected for the MiWay T20 Challenge is:

Morne van Wyk (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Dean Elgar, Obus Pienaar, Michael Erlank, Malusi Siboto, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Aubrey Swanepoel, Werner Coetsee, Johan van der Wath, Quinton Friend, Jandre Coetzee, Ryan McLaren, Dillon du Preez, Ryan Bailey.

"This format of the game always attracts bigger crowds and is of great entertainment to the fans. The team is in a positive spirit, good form and is ready for the MiWay T20 Challenge," said Captain Morne van Wyk.

The Chevrolet Knights are playing their first match on Friday, 17 February 2012 against the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley.

NEW AGE IMPI PLAN TO DO IT MiWay!

2012-02-13

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) on Monday unveiled The New Age Impi* as the new seventh team to take part in this seasonandrsquo;s MiWAY T20 Challenge.

The New Age Impi squad will have former Proteasandrsquo; assistant coach Vinnie Barnes as head coach, will have the High Performance Centre in Pretoria as its training base and will play its home matches at Sahara Park Willowmoore.

Barnes and fellow national selector Corrie van Zyl have named former England T20 captain Paul Collingwood as the captain and he is one of four players CSA will be recruiting for their squad from overseas in terms of the rules and regulations for this competition.

Ryan ten Doeschate, one of the top players from the Netherlands who is ranked among the top 20 batsmen on the ICC Reliance Mobile ODI rankings, has also been recruited and negotiations are well advanced for two more high profile international players.

"We are most grateful to The New Age for the support they have shown for this new venture and I am sure their confidence will be rewarded as the tournament unfolds," commented Majola. "The launch of this new franchise is a very important moment for our domestic cricket as it will give more opportunities for players to perform at the highest domestic level and push for inclusion in the Proteasandrsquo; squad.

"We feel that this initiative is essential as there are talented players coming through our development system into the talent pipeline, who could either be lost overseas or to the game altogether if we do not create opportunities for them.

"I would also like to thank The New Age for what they have done to make it possible for us to recruit four high quality overseas players. Their support has been critical in this regard."

The New Age Media CEO Nazeem Howa commented: "Innovation is the name of the game at The New Age, so when the opportunity to own the seventh team came we had no hesitation in making an offer.

"The New Age Impi gives us an innovating marketing thrust to follow on our trend-setting business briefings. To us it seemed logical that while the Business Briefings are aimed at connecting political leaders and ordinary people, the team gives us an opportunity to connect some really talented cricketers with up and coming players, broadening our connection to our diverse society.

"The team has some exciting youngsters and truly embraces transformation, giving these players the opportunity to play against the best in the T20 format. The New Age Impi will include some really talented players whom we believe will develop these younger players into match winners. We have invested in this team as cricketand#39;s following is amongst the widest in South Africa and we hope to use this platform to take the game to the masses."

Coach Vinnie Barnes commented: "This is a very exciting development for South African cricket and it has been an eye-opener to see how much talent there is in our provincial ranks. We could not possibly have found a better captain than Paul Collingwood. He is a world champion in his own right, having led England to victory in the most recent edition of the ICC World Twenty20.

"Nobody will forget the battles he had with Dale Steyn during Englandandrsquo;s last tour here in 2009/10 when he topped both their Test and ODI batting averages.

"Ryan is another top talent who scored centuries against both England and Ireland at last yearandrsquo;s ICC World Cup."

Captain Paul Collingwood commented: "I am really looking forward to captaining The New Age Impi in South Africa during the local T20 competition and working alongside the head coach, Vinnie Barnes. It is a completely new franchise, new team, new group of players playing together for the first time ever but I am confident we will gel as a unit and be very competitive in this yearandrsquo;s competition."

*Note: An Impi is an isiZulu word for any armed body of men. However, in English it is often used to refer to a Zulu regiment, which is called an ibutho in isiZulu.

The New Age Impi: Paul Collingwood (England, capt), Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands), Adrian McLaren (Griquas), Dominic Hendricks (Lions), Richard Cameron (Strikers), Cobus Pienaar (Easterns),Charl Pietersen (Griquas), Khaya Zondo (Dolphins), Siya Simetu (Western Province), Beuran Hendricks (Cobras), Craig Alexander (Lions), Pumelela Matshikwe (Lions), Ryan Canning (Western Province) plus two overseas players still to be named.

CSA LAUNCHES MiWay T20 CHALLENGE

2012-02-13

TITANS CONFIRMED AS SUPERSPORT SERIES CHAMPIONS

2012-02-13

THE Nashua Titans clinched the four-day SuperSport Series title on Sunday when their only rivals, the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras, were bowled out for 420 in their match against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.

The Cobras had needed to score 540 runs in their available bonus point overs and then go on to complete an outright victory to retain their title after the Titans had taken 21.46 points in overwhelming the Sunfoil Dolphins in their last match in a little more than two days.

With only two sessions left in the game there was in any case little chance of the Cobras forcing an outright victory.

The Lions played out time at 164/4.

The highlight of the day was Yaseen Vallieandrsquo;s career best innings of 167 (216 balls, 22 fours). He was deservedly named SuperSport Series Man of the Match.

Chris Morris had another good match with the ball, finish with 4/100 to be the most successful Lions bowler.

The Titans last won the trophy in 2008/09 and it is their third success in four-day cricket since the start of the franchise system.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola congratulated the Titans on their trophy success. "It is well deserved as they scored more outright victories than any other team and consistently played entertaining and attacking cricket.

"Personal congratulations must also be extended to coach Matthew Maynard and captain Martin van Jaarsveld in their first season as the new leadership team of the Titans.

"The Cobras have also played excellent cricket this season and both these franchises have revealed strong depth by being the two main contenders for the SuperSport Series title and at the same time being major contributors to the Proteasandrsquo; Castle Lager squads.

"They have each produced an exciting international newcomer in Marchant de Lange and Richard Levi.

"The value of the SuperSport Series is underlined by the manner in which Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph and Justin Ontong have developed their games to force their way back into Proteasandrsquo; contention.

"The fact that four franchises were in contention going into the last two rounds and that the destiny of the title was only decided on the final day is a good reflection of the competitive nature of our franchise cricket," he added.

The Chevrolet Knights clinched third place when they beat the Chevrolet Warriors by 161 runs at Axxess St. Georgeandrsquo;s.

Quinton Friend equalled his career best franchise figures by taking 6/45 to send the Warriors reeling to 134 all out on the stroke of the lunch interval.

Knights captain Morne van Wyk was named SuperSport Series Man of the Match for his century that changed the course of the match.

DU PLESSIS LEADS TITANS’ BONUS POINTS CHARGE

2012-02-10

FAF DU PLESSIS scored his third century in four matches to give the Nashua Titans a runaway start to their final SuperSport Series match against the Sunfoil Dolphins at SuperSport Park on Thursday.

Du Plessis and Heino Kuhn both scored centuries as the Titans racked up 473/9 declared in only 87.1 overs and then had an early breakthrough with the ball to have the Dolphins two wickets down for five runs on the board by the close of play.

It meant that the Titans picked up 7.46 batting points and are poised to pick up their first bowling point after an action-packed day.

Du Plessis (157 off 162 balls, 15 fours and four sixes) really picked up the scoring rate for the Titans after Kuhn (128 off 143 balls, 17 fours and a six) had laid the foundation in a second-wicket partnership of 102 in 21 overs with Martin van Jaarsveld.

Kuhn and Du Plessis added 110 for the fourth wicket in 16 overs and Du Plessis and Henry Davids 156 for the fifth wicket in 28 overs.

Rowan Richards and Ethy Mbhalati then completed a highly satisfactory day for the Titans with a wicket each from the 10 balls that were possible before stumps were called.

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras, who went into their final match against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium with the slenderest of leads over the Titans, had to overcome the combined obstacles of some poor weather conditions and some determined batting by their hosts.

The dayandrsquo;s play was restricted to 73 overs with the Lions finishing on a fairly comfortable 228/4 thanks in the main to a second wicket partnership of 131 between Alviro Petersen (93) and Gulam Bodi (73).

For once Vernon Philander failed to take a wicket and it was left to the two spinners, Dane Piedt and Alistair Gray, to give the Cobras some late encouragement. Piedt got rid of both Petersen and Bodi and then Gray produced a real bonus when he dismissed Neil McKenzie shortly before the close of play.

The Chevrolet Knights had to rely on their lower-order once again to get them out of trouble against the Chevrolet Warriors at Axxess St. Georgeandrsquo;s.

At one stage they were 103/7 before Ryan McLaren (74 not out) and Johannes van der Wath (79) transformed the total to 240 all out.

Gurshwin Rabie, who has been taking a packet of wickets for SWD in the three-day provincial competition, was the most successful bowler with figures of 4/69.

The Warriors probably held a slight advantage at the close of play (79/2) but there is not a great deal in it.

BOETA SIT SY BEENSKUTTE 'N LAASTE KEER AAN

2012-02-09

Hendrik Cronjandeacute;

BLOEMFONTEIN. andndash; As andrsquo;n sportster te lank vasklou, kan die goeie vergete gaan.

Boeta Dippenaar het daarom besluit die tydsberekening is reg om sy uittrede as andrsquo;n krieketspeler aan te kondig.

Die 34-jarige Dippenaar speel van vandag af in Port Elizabeth in andrsquo;n SuperSport-wedstryd teen die Warriors die laaste keer amptelik vir die Knights.

Hy beplan om elke oomblik in die Baai te geniet, hopelik goeie lopies te behaal en sal dit as andrsquo;n droomeinde beskou as sy span met die SuperSport-titel kan terugkeer.

"Daar is andrsquo;n tyd en plek vir alles in die lewe. Ek het andrsquo;n wonderlike krieketloopbaan gehad en my tyd ten volle geniet," sandecirc; Dippenaar.

"Ek voel dit is tyd om aan te beweeg. My lewe is groter as net krieket alleen en ander aspekte in my lewe het begin belangrik raak."

Sy stem sal in die toekoms dikwels as kommentator op SuperSport gehoor word en hy sal sy termyn as president van die Suid-Afrikaanse Krieketspelersvereniging oor die volgende 12 maande eerbiedig.

Hy kan later in sy loopbaan betrokke raak om kolwers op verskillende vlakke op andrsquo;n individuele grondslag te help, maar beskou homself nie as andrsquo;n afrigter nie.

"Ek sal nooit net totaal kan wegbreek van krieket nie. Krieket is andrsquo;n weerspieandeuml;ling van die lewe andndash; waar jy soms stampe en stote moet verduur.

"Dandiacute;t het my geleer om te fokus op die suksesse om sodoende vinnig nandaacute; stampe te kan opstaan."

As hy die horlosie kon terugdraai, sou hy sekere dinge in sy krieketloopbaan anders gedoen het.

"Ek sou nie so intens oor my krieket gewees het nie. Ek het soms te styf vasgehou en te hard probeer.

"Ongelukkig het ek te laat in my loopbaan besef dat krieket soms net andrsquo;n spel is."

)Van die hoogtepunte in sy loopbaan sluit in:

* Toe hy op nommer drie vir die Proteas in andrsquo;n Welwillendheidsdag-toets teen Australiandeuml; op andrsquo;n volgepakte MCG voor ongeveer 70 000 mense uitgestap het om die boulwerk van Glen McGrath en Brett Lee te trotseer.

McGrath is die beste bouler waarteen hy sy paaltjies ooit moes beskerm en sandecirc; die Cape Cobras se Vernon Philander is kort op die Aussie se hakke. "Hulle laat jou heeltemal te veel na die bal vroeg in jou beurt speel," skerts Dippenaar.

* Hy kry steeds hoendervleis as hy terugdink toe hy voor 2003 se Wandecirc;reldbeker-toernooi uitgestap het om sy land te verteenwoordig.

* Hansie Cronjandeacute; is die beste kaptein onder wie hy gespeel het. "Ek was andrsquo;n kaptein met beperkinge, maar Hansie was andrsquo;n gebore leier andndash; ek het nog nie weer sandoacute; andrsquo;n kaptein teandeuml;gekom nie."

* Die ondersteuning wat hy by sy vrou Charleen en ouers (Frank en Alet) gekry het, was andrsquo;n verdere hoogtepunt.

- Volksblad

DEFIANT HENDRICKS EARNS KNIGHTS A DRAW

2012-02-06

REEZA HENDRICKS defied the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobrasandrsquo; attack for five hours for the second time in the match to earn the Chevrolet Knights a nail-biting draw on the final day of their SuperSport Series match at Sahara Park Newlands on Sunday.

The Knights still had three wickets in hand although they trailed by eight runs overall when time was called.

It is a result that means the competition will go down to this weekandrsquo;s final round of fixtures with both the Cobras and the second-placed Nashua Titans needing to go all out for victory. Had the Cobras beaten the Knights then it would have been difficult for the Titans to do anything about it.

The Cobras are away to the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium while the Titans are at home to the Sunfoil Dolphins at SuperSport Park. With both matches being played in close geographical proximity neither side should suffer any disadvantage from the weather.

The Cobras must have fancied their chances when they took the second new ball with 10 overs still to be bowled and three wickets required. But the Knights had two cool and experienced customers at the crease in Ryan McLaren and Johannes van der Wath and they held out to the end.

The Cobras used all three their spinners in partnership with Philander but to no avail. The latter took two of the seven wickets to fall to given him nine in the match to earn the consolation prize of being named SuperSport Series Man of the Match.

Hendricks was the other contender, having made made 124 in the first innings and 82 in the second.

The exciting finish rather obscured Johann Louwandrsquo;s achievement of scoring his second first-class century before Justin Kemp declared.

Neil McKenzie completed his second century of the match to earn the Lions a draw against the Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.

McKenzie (101 not out off 182 balls, 10 fours) enabled the Lions to declare at 268/6, setting the Dolphins a token target of 210 in 22 overs. The home side played out time at 50/1.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR PHILANDER

2012-02-04

VERNON PHILANDER went past the landmark of 50 wickets for the first-class season on his way to career best figures of 7/61 on the second day of the SuperSport Series match between the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and the Chevrolet Knights at Sahara Park Newlands on Friday.

Philander has only played eight first-class matches this season but he has taken 30 wickets in four Sunfoil Test matches against Australia and Sri Lanka and a further 22 wickets in his four SuperSport Series appearances.

This includes five five-wicket hauls and he must be confident of taking his second 10-fer of the season as the second half of this match unfolds.

In spite of Philanderandrsquo;s outstanding form the Cobras have a lot of work to do to overtake the Knightsandrsquo; first innings total of 345 which featured a second century on Friday when Rilee Rossouw batted through the remainder of his sideandrsquo;s innings to finish unbeaten on 144 (367 balls, 15 fours and a six). It was his 11th first-class century and his second this season.

The Cobras lost wickets at regular intervals in their reply and finished the day on 118/3 for an overall deficit of 227 runs with the pair at the crease, JP Duminy and Mark Boucher, both looking to play substantial innings ahead of next monthandrsquo;s Test match series in New Zealand.

Looking at the overall SuperSport Series picture the Cobras have only managed to score two bonus points so far (both for bowling) which places them less than a point ahead of the Nashua Titans.

The latter were washed out at Buffalo Park against the Chevrolet Warriors for the second day in a row but they could undo some of the damage if they can play for bonus points over the last two days and hope that the Knights continue to hold their own against the Cobras.

The other match between the bizhub Highveld Lions and the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead is evenly poised with the home side having made 198/3 in reply to the Lionsandrsquo; total of 418 all out for an overall deficit of 220 runs.

The Dolphins were given a strong start by Imraan Khan and Divan van Wyk who put on 161 for the first wicket. The Lions then dismissed both these batsmen as well as in-form Vaughn van Jaarsveld but they still have work to do with Hashim Amla and David Miller at the crease.

The Lions will not need reminding that Amla scored a double century the last time these two teams met earlier in the season.

Chris Morris confirmed the promise he has started to show for the Lions as an all-rounder when he scored a quick-fire 62 (67 balls, 9 fours) and then took two of the three wickets to fall.

Earlier Kyle Abbott had completed a five-wicket haul for the Dolphins andndash; the fourth of his first-class career.

PHILANDER MAKES VITAL STRIKES

2012-02-03

VERNON PHILANDER struck four times with the second new ball in the space of six overs to bring the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras back into contention in their SuperSport Series match against the Chevrolet Knights at Sahara Park Newlands on Thursday.

The Knights, who had won the toss, had built up a very strong position as Reeza Hendricks (124 off 245 balls, 19 fours and a six) and Rilee Rossouw (88 not out off 224 bals, 9 fours and a six) added 178 for the second wicket in 60 overs.

But Philander changed the momentum of the game when he had Hendricks caught behind by Mark Boucher and then bowled the trio of Boeta Dippenaar, Morne van Wyk and Werner Coetsee who were only able to contribute 5 runs between them.

It meant that the Knights finished the day on 248/5 with Philander having the outstanding figures of 4/42 in 20 overs.

The pitch was on the slow side and did not offer the bowlers much encouragement which made Philanderandrsquo;s effort even more special.

It was Hendricksandrsquo; seventh career century and his first this season.

Rossouw also showed a timely return to form and the Knights will be looking to him to lead them through to a substantial total. The Knightsandrsquo; lower-order has performed impressively this season and they still have reliable batting to support Rossouw in the likes of Ryan McLaren, Aubrey Swanepoel and Johannes van der Wath.

The Cobras will be hoping for a third bowling point in the remaining four overs. For the moment they have gone ahead of the Nashua Titans at the top of the log as the latter had a frustrating first day at Buffalo Park against the Chevrolet Warriors with no play being possible at all.

The other team in contention for the SuperSport Series, the bizhub Highveld Lions, made an excellent start to their match against the Sunfoil Dolphins at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead. Both Neil McKenzie and Temba Bavuma made centuries in sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 228 that enabled the Lions to finish the day on a comfortable 303/6.

McKenzie (108 off 214 balls, 11 fours and a six) made his 44th first-class century and in the process also took his career aggregate past the 16 000 mark.

Bavuma (121 off only 160 balls, 13 fours) completed his fifth first-class century, three of which have come in this seasonandrsquo;s SuperSport Series and the last two of them in his last three matches. He has the impressive average for the season of 55.

Kyle Abbott (4/62) was the most successful bowler while another relative newcomer, Mthokozisi Shezi, made the early inroad by taking two wickets up front. He has now taken 15 wickets in three-and-a-half matches which compares well with the acknowledged champion, Philander, who has taken 18 wickets from his three-and-a-half matches.