SASOLBURG. – Free State Indoor Cricket was recently chosen by Indoor Cricket South Africa (ICSA) to host the National Senior Indoor Cricket championships for 2023.
The Senior Championships is for the age groups over 30, over 40, and over 50. The tournament was held at the Indoor Sports Arena Sasolburg located at the THS Sasolburg from August 27 to September 2.
A total of 28 teams from as far as the Free State, Border, Eastern Gauteng, Eastern Province, Gauteng North, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Western Province, and Western Gauteng participated in the tournament. Free State was represented in all the age groups with two teams in o/30s, two teams in o/40s, and one team in o/50s.
Free State also raised their game as hosts with two of the teams reaching the finals and one team winning the Plate final. The Over 40s ended top of the log and went straight through to the final match without having to play in any playoffs but were beaten by a determined Western Province team.
The o/50s won their eliminator match against Gauteng North but were beaten by Eastern Province in the final. The o/30s won the Plate final to claim gold for Free State.
The tournament was also used for the selection of a National Indoor Cricket Team. The Indoor Cricket World Cup takes place in 2024 in Sri Lanka. The Free State players who were invited to the final trials are: Jaco Botes, Peter Davies, and Andre Pretorius (o.50s); Barend Swanepoel, Pierre Swanepoel, René Pretorius (o/45s); Niel Fourie and Lewyllen de Jager (o/40s). A National ICSA Over 30 team was also selected to undertake an Inland Tour of South Africa in 2024. Jacques du Plessis from Free State was selected as a member of this team.
