United to host ‘Battle of the Roses’
With the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Australian Big Bash in world cricket in recent years, the concept of franchise-style T20 matches has gripped cricketers and supporters alike.
This year the Eastern Cricket Union has adopted a similar approach, with the formation of the inaugural Battle of the Roses Premier League T20 competition.
Six Easterns semi-professional players will skipper six “franchise” teams in the T20 tournament, namely Benoni Northerns’ Ernest Kemm (Kemm Gladiators), Tembisa’s Thando Bula (Bula Magic), Kempton Park’s Grant Thomson (Grant’s Giants), Actonville Spurs’ Clayton August (The Underdogs), Kempton Park’s Wesley Marshall (Marshies Marauders) and Tembisa’s Israel Hlengane (Izzy’s Hurricanes).
Players were selected on a draft basis by the various captains.
The tournament will be hosted on the three fields at United Cricket Club’s Hosking Park, in Brakpan.
The first round of matches will be played on Saturday, March 14, followed by double-headers on Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22.
The finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 29.
Players from United Cricket Club who will be taking part in the tournament are Justin Gamble (Kemm Gladiators), Brandon Grutter (Grant’s Giants), Kevin Hinton (Kemm Gladiators), JP Meade (Kemm Gladiators), Tshepo Motaung (Bula Magic), Kabelo Sekhukhune (Grant’s Giants), Rian van der Merwe (Kemm Gladiators) and David Zweni (Kemm Gladiators).
There will be music and children’s entertainment at the club during the tournament.
According to United Cricket Club’s facility manager, Des Gamble, the club will go “all out” to ensure a truly festive and exciting event.
