KZN Coastal hoping for historical Sunfoil Cup glory

Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal Coastal team’s season will culminate in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup final against Namibia beginning at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium on Thursday, as they hope to become the first KZN Coastals side to win the coveted red ball competition.

The team has performed consistently well throughout the drawn-out campaign finishing the round robin phase of the tournament at the top of Group A, which included one of last season’s joint winners Northerns, as well as Western Province and recently crowned CSA Senior Provincial one-day title winners North West.

KZN Coastal went through the season with just two losses to their record along with six victories and two draws. Their points tally of 178.9 was significantly higher than Group B winners Namibia, who ended the season on 153.68 points.

With history on the line for the hosts this week, they have the opportunity to join their KZN neighbours as Sunfoil 3-Day Cup champions, when the men from Pietermaritzburg won the title in 2015/16.

“We have got a lot of confidence going into the game and we have played some good, consistent cricket this season,” coach Roger Telemachus mentioned.

“There have been some good individual performances but the team has put it together well on the field.

“We decided that we needed to put a few new things in place after our disappointing Africa Cup campaign and it has worked out well for us so far.”

Many of the players will be going into a first major final of their careers, having that in their minds should get them ready for the encounter, according to their coach.

“Just being in a final should get them ready for this one and we have tried to approach it in the same way that we have every other game this season,” Telemachus added.

The KZN side have the luxury of calling on some of the players who have been in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins squad this season; however for the coach this is an exciting addition as many of them have been involved in the KZN Coastals side at some stage this season.

“There will be some guys that have been in the Dolphins squad this season but have also played games for us that we will have in the side.

“They understand the culture and so having the guys in the side will be crucial elements as we try to make history!” Telemachus said.

KZN Coastal Team:
Michael Erlank, Mishkal Ramsaroop, Khalipha Cele, Senuran Muthusamy, Marques Ackerman, Jason Oakes, Sibz Makhanya, Calvin Savage, Eathan Bosch, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Keith Dudgeon.