This year the Eastern Cricket Union has adopted a similar approach with the formation of the inaugural “Battle of the Roses” Premier League T20 competition.
Six Easterns semi-professional players will skipper six “franchise” teams in the T20 tournament, namely Benoni Northerns’ Ernest Kemm (Kemm Gladiators), Tembisa’s Thando Bula (Bula Magic), Kempton Park’s Grant Thomson (Grant’s Giants), Actonville Spurs’ Clayton August (The Underdogs), Kempton Park’s Wesley Marshall (Marshies Marauders) and Tembisa’s Israel Hlengane (Izzy’s Hurricanes).
Players were selected on a draft basis by the various captains.
The tournament will be hosted on the three fields at United Cricket Club’s Hoskin Park, in Brakpan.
The first round of matches will be played on Saturday, March 14, followed by double-headers on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22.
The finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 29.
Players from Benoni Northerns Cricket Club who will be taking part in the tournament are Lee Cothill (Grant’s Giants), Kurt Francis (Izzy’s Hurricanes), Lance Humphrey (Izzy’s Hurricanes), Vaughn Humphrey (Marshies Marauders), Rhenier Jordaan (Marshies Marauders), Ernest Kemm (Kemm Gladiators), Jean Pierre Kok (The Underdogs), GC Pretorius (Izzy’s Hurricanes), Mark Robey (Grant’s Giants), Levon Shields (Bula Magic) and Werner van Lingen (Kemm Gladiators).
Actonville Spurs Cricket Clubs representatives will be Clayton August (The Underdogs), Praveshen Chetty (Bula Magic), Michael Enslin (Kemm Gladiators), Shakeel Hossain (Kemm Gladiators), Theo Naidoo (Marshies Marauders), Xolile Nkomo (Kemm Gladiators), Mekyle Pillay (Izzy’s Hurricanes).
Melusi Dlamini (Grant’s Giants) is the sole player from Daveyton Cricket Club playing in the competition.
There will be music and children’s entertainment at the club during the tournament.
