Explosive action and fun for all at the Clifton T20
The Crusaders Club, in Durban North, will become an entertainment venue for the whole family during the Clifton T20 Tournament, which starts at 11:30 on Friday morning with a clash between Clifton College and St John’s College (Harare).
It’s a fitting opener because the idea for the Clifton T20 came from the St John’s Rams T20. It’s played annually, and Clifton has been a regular participant in the event for well over a decade, during which a strong relationship between the schools has developed. Last year, in Harare, the Durban side finished as the runner-up.
One of the highlights of the third edition of the Clifton T20 is the addition of a couple of primary school matches, with four teams set to play at Crusaders on Saturday.
“You’ve got Clifton Prep vs Highbury, and they’ll be playing for the Procter Richards Trophy on the main field, while Westville Senior Primary and Northlands will play on Crusaders 2,” Clifton’s Director of Sport, Brandon Scullard, said.
“Both teams will receive sponsored match shirts to play in, and they’ll play a pink ball game.”
The Procter Richards Trophy match, which takes place between Clifton T20 matches around midday, will be broadcast on DStv Channel 216, which is appropriate, considering the stature of the players after whom the annual Highbury vs Clifton game is named.
The commentary team will include, among others, Johan “Spoed” Smith, Andy Capagstano, former Dolphins‘ opening batsman Divan van Wyk, Christo Esau and Brandon Scullard, who previously opened the bowling for the Dolphins.
Mike Procter, one of the world’s greatest all-rounders, attended Highbury at the same time that Barry Richards, one of the world’s greatest batsmen, attended Clifton.
Although primarily a bowling all-rounder, Procter shares a world record with Sir Donald Bradman and CB Fry for scoring six successive first-class centuries.
In August 1979, in consecutive matches, he claimed two all-LBW hat-tricks, playing for Gloucestershire (which was, at times, referred to as Proctershire because of his massive impact on the side) against Leicestershire and Yorkshire.
Richards, meanwhile, is remembered for his superlative technique, which brought him 325 runs in a single day in November 1970 for South Australia against a Western Australia attack that was loaded with international bowlers, including Australia’s Graham McKenzie, Dennis Lillee, Tony Mann, and John Inverarity, and England’s Tony Lock. He went on to score 356.
He and the West Indian great, Gordon Greenidge, opened Hampshire’s innings for many seasons and were a thorn in the side of the English county’s opposition.
In 2001, when the greatest batsman in Test history, Sir Donald Bradman, named his All-Time Best XI, he included Barry Richards as one of that side’s openers.
Crusaders, meanwhile, will offer something for everyone, even those with only a passing interest in the game.
“We have bolstered the main venue by adding a giant marquee, which will include TVs and a bar for refreshments. We’ve also added a general seating area around the field, including benches and umbrellas,” Brandon Scullard said.
“We will have a massive big-screen TV, with a crisp LED picture. We are in talks with SuperSport to ensure a live feed to their production truck, which would allow the public and players to view the big screen during the game and see replays.
“The players will also be able to view the score at the bottom of the screen, as the live scoreboard for the field.
“We’re also doing a catch-a-six competition, where spectators can win a pizza from the Saders Kitchen. It doesn’t have to be a one-hander or anything like that, but every six that’s caught will win the catcher a pizza. We’re encouraging people to come to the cricket and sit around the field.
“There will be food vendors, and, on Saturday, there will be inflatables for the kids. We are trying to enhance the experience for everyone. We want to make it exciting.
“There will be a DJ during the day. There will be live music in the afternoons and evenings. It’s about getting everyone out to come and socialise and enjoy some schoolboy sport.
“We’re trying to reach the greater community. It’s not just for people whose sons play cricket.”
FIXTURES
Group A
Friday, 13 February
11:30 – Clifton vs Hilton, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Kearsney, Riverside
Saturday, 14 February
08:30 – Clifton vs St John’s, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Kearsney vs Hilton, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Clifton vs Kearsney, Crusaders Main
14:30 – St John’s vs Hilton, Riverside
Group B
Friday, 13 February
08:30 – Maritzburg College vs St Charles, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Northwood vs Westville, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Northwood, DHS
14:00 – Westville vs Maritzburg College, Northwood
Saturday, 14 February
08:30 – Northwood vs Maritzburg College, Riverside
14:00 – St Charles vs Westville, Northwood
Group C
Friday, 13 February
08:30 – Michaelhouse vs Waterkloof, DHS
08:30 – Glenwood vs DHS, Northwood
14:30 – DHS vs Waterkloof, Crusaders Main
Saturday, 14 February
08:30 – Waterkloof vs Glenwood, DHS
08:30 – DHS vs Michaelhouse, Northwood
14:00 – Glenwood vs Michaelhouse, DHS
Sunday, 15 February
08:30 – Eliminator 1, Crusaders Main
08:30 – Eliminator 2, Crusaders 2
09:00 – 7th place, DHS
09:00 – 9th place, Northwood
09:00 – 11th place, Kingsmead Oval
11:30 – Semi-final 1, Crusaders Main
11:30 – Semi-final 2, Crusaders 2
14:30 – Final, Crusaders Main
