Pietermaritzburg – Hollywoodbets KZN Inland will be hoping to build on a strong CSA Provincial T20 Cup campaign when they face the Central Gauteng Lions in the first round of the new season’s 3-Day Provincial Cup and One Day Provincial Cup at the Pietermaritzburg Oval starting on Thursday.
The Inland side showed positive early season form when they made the finals of the T20 Cup where they lost to Easterns, and will hope to carry that momentum into their first game of the season this week.
Once again Hollywoodbets have continued their support of the Pietermaritzburg-based provincial side for the second consecutive season and with the support of the sponsors will hope to build on their display last season.
It’s going to be a tough start to the season as Inland come up against a traditionally strong Gauteng side – a side that finished second in their pool last season in the three-day and one-day competition.
As is tradition, the one day cup match will follow the day after the conclusion of the three-day game which gives the side’s very little time to recover.
The side will have new management in the form of former Proteas T20 player Yusuf Abdullah as their head coach and former Dolphins star Ahmed Amla as assistant coach. Abdullah has come into the role and made a final already so the early momentum is with him and his side.
“We are very excited to get the season started properly now,” Abdullah said. “The T20 really set the tone for us and although we didn’t win the title I think we learnt some valuable lessons that are really important for us going forward.
“I think in the T20 Cup we did the basics really well and had a positive mind-set, this is something that we want to carry through the season.”
It is a long season with ten three-day games on the cards for Inland and Abdullah is trying to create a strong culture within the squad.
“We have worked hard in trying to make sure that the players are in a good space and I think it’s important that we know how the guys feel.
“In the pre-season we put a lot of emphasis on team unity and I think that we have got a strong sense of unity within the squad going into the season.”
Inland will be led by 2018/19 captain Luke Schlemmer again and Abdullah has confidence in the youngster.
“It was his first season captaining the side last season and you could see that he was learning.
“We are sure that he has grown as a leader and is the right man to take the side forward this season,” he added.
For more information visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland Squad v Central Gauteng Lions
Johnny Riekert, Sthabiso Zungu, Joel Veeran, Luke Schlemmer (Captain), Mangaliso Mosehle, Kushen Kishun, Gareth Dukes, Tyron Koen, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Athi Maphosa, Lwandiswa Zuma, Nduduzo Mfoza, Rob Frylinck.
Management: Yusuf Abdullah (Head Coach), Ahmed Amla (Assistant Coach)
*Michael Booth and Kyle Nipper will join the squad for the 50 over game on Sunday.
HOLLYWOODBETS KZN INLAND SEASON FIXTURES
CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup
October 2019
Thu 03 – Sat 05 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Central Gauteng Lions Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Thu 24 – Sat 26 Easterns v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Willowmoore Park, Benoni
November 2019
Thu 21 – Sat 23 Free State v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
December 2019
Thu 12 – Sat 14 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Northern Cape Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
January 2020
Thu 16 – Sat 18 Boland v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl
Thu 23 – Sat 25 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v North West Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Thu 30 – Sat 01 Northerns v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Tshwane University of Technology, Centurion
February 2020
Thu 13 – Sat 15 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Eastern Province Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
March 2020
Thu 05 – Sat 07 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Border Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Thu 12 – Sat 14 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
CSA One Day Provincial Cup
October 2019
Sun 06 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Central Gauteng Lions Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Sun 27 Easterns v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Willowmoore Park, Benoni
November
Sun 24 Free State v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
December
Sun 15 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Northern Cape Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
January 2020
Sun 19 Boland v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Eurolux Boland Park, Paarl
Sun 26 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v North West Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
February 2020
Sun 02 Northerns v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Tshwane University of Technology, Centurion
Sun 16 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Eastern Province Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
March 2020
Sun 08 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland v Border Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Sun 15 Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Coastal v Hollywoodbets KwaZulu-Natal Inland Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban