KZN Coastal included in Division One:
Durban – Following the announcement of the restructuring of domestic cricket in South Africa, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Monday that the Hollywoodbets Dolphins will represent KZN Coastal in Division One while Hollywoodbets KZN Inland will play in the bottom seven in the lower Division Two.
The Dolphins have once again proven their worth with a shared triumph in the Momentum One Day Cup and then making it to the final of the Betway T20 Challenge. This coupled with being the number one affiliate, as per the latest CSA scorecard, helped the union successfully bid for a spot in the top eight.
“Looking at the success of both the Dolphins and Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal we are looking forward to continuing to play amongst the best unions in the country,” CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said.
“With two semi-professional trophies and three franchise trophies in the last four seasons KZN Cricket continues to show its worth and builds on its success.”
Governance came into the spotlight when KZN Cricket won the CSA Scorecard last season which showed important growth at the union off the field.
“We were number one in governance and finance in the previous season which all contributed to the union winning the CSA Scorecard for the first time.
“Not only have we worked hard from a governance point of view but there have been massive upgrades to Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium with playing facilities, players change rooms and practice facilities all receiving important upgrades.
“The Dolphins brand has been well supported by a number of sponsors and partners who are crucial to the brand continuing to thrive and grow it’s following throughout the country.”
The Dolphins will be looking to consolidate their spot in the top eight and fight for trophies in all competitions.
KZN Coastal will be joined by Boland, Eastern Province, Free State, Gauteng, North-West, Northerns and Western Province.
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland has been included in Division Two with an important goal of gaining promotion to Division One.
Inland will be up against Border, Northern Cape, Easterns, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and South Western Districts in the Division Two.
President of the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union Daniel Govender welcomes the new system and is hoping to see Inland push for promotion.
“It is the goal to have both KZN sides in Division One,” Govender said.
“With the talent that is coming through the Inland system we hope that they can push the other sides in their division to gain that important promotion spot for the 2023/24 season.
“There are so many good players across both the Coastal and Inland squads there is going to be a lot of competition for places like we have already seen.
“We are looking forward to seeing how both sides go in the new season following a strong finish to this season by the KZN sides.”
The post KZN Coastal included in Division One appeared first on Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
KZN Coastal return with full house of victories:
Durban – In a significantly truncated season, Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal made the most of their opportunity to finish their campaign with five wins from five including two three-day victories and three 50 over wins.
Coastal were pooled with Border, South Western Districts and Boland in a bio-secure environment (BSE) in Stellenbosch and were in good form throughout the two week period where they met South Western Districts in a three-day encounter, played all the sides in a 50 over match and then played Border in a final three day game.
In their first match against SWD Coastal managed to chase down a difficult 328 in the final innings thanks largely to a century from Marques Ackerman. Coastal snuck home in their opener by three wickets.
They then moved to white ball cricket where they continued where they had started with a 49 run win over Boland. Michael Erlank made 102 while Keith Dudgeon took 4/44 in a dominant display.
Coastal then faced neighbours Border in their second 50 over clash and after making 279 for six they bowled the Eastern Cape side out for 210. Jason Oakes was in the runs with 88 while Keith Dudgeon chipped in with an important 71. Smangaliso Nhlebela then produced a dominant display with the ball bagging 5/40 while Hlompo Modimokwane took 3/37. Coastal made it three wins from three when they beat Border by 69 runs.
In their third and final 50 over match Hollywoodbets Coastal beat SWD by 137 runs. Blayde Capell top scored with a maiden List-A century and then Matthew Pollard took 3/43 as Coastal bowled SWD out for 125.
The side left their most impressive performance for last when they dismantled Border in their final three day encounter.
Jason Oakes made 121 in their first innings as they amassed 361 in the first innings. They then, thanks to bowling performances by Smangaliso Nhlebela in the first innings and Keith Dudgeon in the second innings that saw Coastal bowl Border out for 161 and then just 16 in their second innings.
Nhlebela took 5/58 while Dudgeon was dominant with figures of 5/8 in the second knock. Ultimately the brilliant bowling display led to an innings and 184 run victory.
The second innings display meant that Coastal’s bowling performance, dismissing Border for 16, tied the record for lowest first class score in South African First Class cricket history.
Coastal coach Roger Telemachus was happy with how the side played given the circumstances leading up to the BSE.
“After such a long wait to get some cricket in I couldn’t be happier for the side,” Telemachus said. “The boys put together two weeks of brilliant cricket and their attitudes throughout were fantastic.
“There were some fantastic individual performances but as a whole the side was brilliant.
“To finish off with a performance like that was an awesome way to wrap up the season.”
The post KZN Coastal return with full house of victories appeared first on Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
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