Star-studded line-ups named for Franchise Challenge at Global Softech Sixes in Centurion

Some of South Africa’s most renowned big hitters, whose sustained bludgeoning has entertained domestic and international audiences during the past decade, will be at the centre of attraction when the South African Franchise Challenge starts on September 4 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Franchise Challenge forms part of the Global Softech Sixes tournament.

The Franchise Challenge will finish on September 5 and will be followed by the Africa Sixes Challenge starting on September 6, featuring six African teams. They are South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The domestic teams for the Franchise Challenge were named on Thursday August 28.

“The Franchise Challenge and the Africa Sixes Challenge as part of the Global Softech Sixes event might appeal to a new audience of fans and can be an important stepping stone in the globalisation of cricket with its electrifying pace, frenetic intensity and heart-stopping finishes,” said Jacques Faul, CEO of The Unlimited Titans, the hosting franchise.

A clinic for fast bowlers will also be hosted at SuperSport Park for the duration of the Global Softech Sixes event.

Albie Morkel, David Wiese, Richard Levi, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Mangaliso Mosehle, Morné van Wyk, Cameron Delport, Colin Ingram, Ryan Bailey and Robbie Frylinck have entertained many domestic audiences with their sensational ability to clear the ground with contemptuous ease. They form part of a star-studded Franchise Challenge.

The Unlimited Titans players Morkel, Wiese, Farhaan Behardien and Henry Davids have represented the South African T20-team and are part of an impressive-looking squad.

Wiese’s name will always be associated with a magnificent 61 off 28 balls in a Champions League Twenty20 semi-final for the Titans against the Sydney Sixers.

The game went right to the wire before Sydney scampered a win.

Morkel featured for South Africa in four T20 World Cups.

In the 2013/2014 season, he and Behardien smashed 106 off 57 balls to set up an exciting Titans win against the Chevrolet Warriors in the Momentum One-Day Cup competition, an indication of their boundary bashing ability.

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras have a few stalwarts who made headlines for South Africa.

Levi hit a 45-ball century in only his second international appearance for South Africa. He finished unbeaten on 117 off 52 balls in that T20-match against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2012. His knock included 13 sixes.

Kemp scored an unbeaten century for South Africa in a One-Day International against India, which included a world-record partnership of 138 for the eighth wicket with Andrew Hall.

Kemp is one of five players with international experience in the Cobras line-up, all with big-hitting credentials.

Van Wyk and Delport are part of the domestic T20-champions, the Sunfoil Dolphins team. Both have previously propelled their franchises to wins with impressive performances in the shorter formats.

Delport smashed an unbeaten 58-ball 103 to lead the Dolphins to victory against the Chevrolet Knights in the T20-format in March 2013.

Van Wyk pummelled the highest domestic score in a 40-over format when he hit 168 for the Knights.

All-round ability in the six-over matches will be pivotal in order to defend or chase down competitive totals.

In this respect, bowlers like Kemp, Wiese, Morkel, Kleinveldt, Quinton Friend, Dillon du Preez, Frylinck, Chris Morris, Basheer Walters and Hardus Viljoen can bamboozle the master blasters, or fulfil roles as lower-order hitters to keep fans on the edge of their seats with enthralling chases.

Tickets are available online at www.ticketpro.co.za or at the stadium. Prices are R30 per day or R100 for all four days.

The teams are Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras: Justin Ontong, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijima, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas.

bizhub Highveld Lions: Temba Bavuma, Dwaine Pretorius, Christopher Morris, Hardus Viljoen, Jean Symes, Shaylen Pillay, Pumelela Matshikwe.

The Unlimited Titans: Farhaan Behardien, Albie Morkel, Dean Elgar, Roelof van der Merwe, Mangaliso Mosehle, Henry Davids, David Wiese, Qaasim Adams.