SPORTS: Paradise prepares for cricket season

While the Newcastle District Cricket Association’s (NDCA) season officially starts in October, Paradise is already hard at work in preparation.

In a pre-season friendly played at Arbor Park Sports Grounds, Paradise participated in a 30-overs-per-side match against Lichtenburg, during the past weekend.

Lichtenburg batted first and posted a very competitive total of 233 for 6, but this could not dampen Paradise’s spirits.

Hussain Essop scored 98 at the top of the order, which included 14 fours and four sixes, while Arshad Dessai added a classy 49 runs to the team’s score.

Paradise reached the run target in the last over, completing a five wicket victory over Lichtenburg. The team used the opportunity to introduce new players, Braeden Coetzee and Craig Elliott. They made their first appearance for the club, with Coetzee scoring 34 runs and Elliott unbeaten on four runs when the game ended.

This season promises to be the best yet, with Newcastle granted Premier League status in Pietermaritzburg.

This will equate to 27 extra matches for those representing Newcastle District. NDCA welcomed the Newcastle Mall as headline sponsor of the team.

The following 15 players are in the squad:

1. Graham Sharp – Phoenix – captain

2. Hussain Essop – Paradise – vice-captain

3. Sohail Gori – Asians

4. Nico-Jan Chowles – Phoenix

5. Yasheel Chutergoon – Underdogs

6. Ruwayne Chetty – Phoenix

7. Arslan Butt – SAPS

8. Sandile Hlatswayo – Eagles

9. Mohammed Moola – Phoenix

10. Kaveel Barath – Underdogs

11. Braeden Coetzee – Paradise

12. Arshad Dessai – Paradise

13. Usman Dessai – Asians

14. Ansar Siddique – Lennoxton

15. Saadiq Bhula – Asians.

The NDCA will also enter a second team into the Northern Natal League, with headline sponsor Y&R Developers taking care of its needs.

The team consists of:

1. Renesh Harbhajan – Paradise (captain)

2. Wandile Nkosi – Highlands

3. Ashvik Dheena – Paradise

4. Chris Ewart – Phoenix (vice-captain)

5. Matthew Ewart – Phoenix

6. Johan Ferreira – Phoenix

7. Quentin Ferreira – Phoenix

8. John Clark – Phoenix

9. Brandon Rossol – Highlands

10. Ritesh Singh – Lennoxton

11. Sajid Gori – Asians

12. Tshepo Ngwenya – Eagles

13. Tishen Narothum – Underdogs

14. Johan Jacobs – Warriors

15. Divan Geel – Paradise

16. Deon van Rooyen – Phoenix

17. Marcel Swartz – Highlands

18. Nishen Ramduth – Paradise.