SWD in T20 knockout tourney

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT CRICKET NEWS - Jean du Plessis (22) is the leader of the Six Gun Grill SWD team in Kimberley for their first campaign of the season in Pool A of the newly-introduced Cricket South Africa Twenty20 Knock-out competition.

Du Plessis, who matriculated at Glenwood House in George in 2016, made his senior debut for SWD the same year, while still at school.

In 2018 he represented the SA U19s at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. Last season he was part of the Cape Cobras franchise.

With the Oudtshoorn-based team setting its sights on promotion to Division 1 in 2023, this competition provides an ideal start to their campaign.

Two versatile all-rounders, key in SWD’s game plan, are Onke Nyaku and André Malan (brother of Protea players, Pieter and Janneman Malan).

Onke Nyaku

André Malan

Fifteen teams across Division 1 and 2, along with the SA U19s, were drawn into four pools of four each for the season-opening competition in Kimberley and Bloemfontein from today, Friday 24 September to 22 October.

Co-hosts, the Northern Cape Heat and Itec Knights, were pre-determined for Pool A and B respectively.

Six Gun Grill SWD, Imperial Lions and Six Gun Grill Western Province are with Northern Cape in Pool A.

Each team plays three matches within their pool, with the top two teams in each pool qualifying for the final leg of the competition.

Cricket South Africa and SuperSport confirmed all the fixtures are being broadcast live by SuperSport.

The Six Gun Grill SWD team: (front) Yaseen Vali, Hanno Kotze, Sean Whitehead, Garry Hampson (coach), Jean du Plessis (captain), Gurshwin Rabie (assistant coach), André Malan, Marcello Piedt, Arishna Maghoo (physiotherapist), (back) Jhedli van Briesies, Onke Nyaku, Renaldo Meyer, Sintu Majiza, Blayde Capell, Heath Richards, Travis Ackermann, Regan Rhode and Pheko Moletsane.