What do you get when you take North West’s best cricketers, divide them into four teams and let them battle it out in a T20 tournament at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom to crown the province’s best?

The answer to that question, ladies and gentlemen, is the Sedgars North West Premier League, more widely known as the NPL, which is already in its sixth season this year. This year, the tournament will take place at Senwes Park from 15-17 April and is something that cannot be missed.

The NPL can more or less be seen as a localised version of the Indian Premier League with team owners and businesses sponsoring the main four     teams. Each owner has a chance to auction 13 players for his side, based on draft picks.

This auction took place at Senwes Park on 1 March 2016 where the Senwes Spinners, Oranje Toyota Cruisers, Red Devils and Consensus Crusaders each picked a strong group of players to represent them.

Lions players, Nicky van den Bergh, Rassie van der Dussen, Pumi Matshikwe, Dwaine Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin and André Malan are also part of the auction and will add greatly to the prestige and competitiveness of the tournament.

The core group of players selected in the auction was from the club cricket’s Potch Dorp, NWU, Vaal Reefs, Ikageng, Impala, Lichtenburg, Merafong and Klerksdorp Travellers.

The Senwes Spinners have the likes of Bjorn Fortuin, Ruan Haasbroek, Jovaun van Wyngaardt and Hanco Olivier in their ranks. Fortuin has been batting and bowling brilliantly for the Lions this season.

The Red Devils have the Lions’ Nicky van den Bergh, NWU’s Katleho Leokaoke and Niel Bredenkamp at their disposal. The team has a great mix of youth and experience and will be one of the dark horses going into the showpiece in April.

The Oranje Toyota Cruisers look like one of the most dangerous batting sides in the tournament with Wihan Lubbe, leading run-scorer in this year’s Varsity Cricket tournament forming a dangerous partnership with André Malan, Richardt Frenz and Marques Ackerman at the top of the order. The bowling talent of the fast bowler, JP le Roux and spinners, Johannes Diseko and Lesego Senokwane will also add to the team’s strengths.

The Consensus Crusaders have a strong core group with Lions’ Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius on their side. These two players are some of the country’s best T20 exponents and, along with the NWU”s hard hitting Janneman Malan and Potch Dorp’s Stefan Gericke, will form a lethal top order.

An interesting aspect of this tournament is the inclusion of school cricket players in each team. Cobus Crowther, Ruan von Abo (both Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom), Tumelo Mokoena and Ruan Minnaar (Hoërskool Klerksdorp) will definitely take valuable experience from the exposure in this tournament.

North West Cricket’s CEO, Heinrich Strydom is excited about the tournament and believes that this year will be the best one yet.

“The Grainwest All-Star team will also be selected at the end of the tournament. This will give players that extra incentive,” he added.

Teams:

Consensus Crusaders: Rassie van der Dussen, Dwaine Pretorius, Janneman Malan, Stefan Gericke, Dyllan Matthews, Bredell Wessels, Edrich Lubbe, Tsholofelo Phukuile, Sipho Mashele, Henning du Plooy, Ziets Nyembe, Mike Fielding and Cobus Crowther. Daneel Derks (manager) Charl Daubney (coach)

Oranje Toyota Cruisers: Wihan Lubbe, JP le Roux, Johannes Diseko, Marques Ackerman, Richard Frenz, André Malan, Siviwe Gidana, Shane de Beer, Wynanad Schmitt, Lesego Senokwane, Marno Pretorius, Dwaine Fielding and Ruan von Abo. Dawie Lubbe Koos Rossouw (managers) Andries Huisamen (coach)

Senwes Spinners: Bjorn Fortuin, Pumi Matshikwe, Brady Barends, Jovaun van Wyngaardt, Ruan Haasbroek, Anton Potgieter, Kagiso Rapulana, Hanco Olivier, Tommie le Roux, Phillip Snyman, Jerome Xaba, Thami Matlhare and Tumelo Mokoena. Japie Fransman (manager) Jimmy Kgamadi (coach)

Red Devils: Niel Bredenkamp, Nicky van den Bergh, Andreas Joubert, CJ Ferreira, Armand Erasmus, Katleho Leokaoke, Driaan Weyers, Wimpie Viljoen, Niel Durrow, Otty Ramaboa, Findo Mdiza and Pieter Pretorius. Abe Pretorius (manager) Niel Bredenkamp (coach)