Sport Highlights, 15 – 17 April

The biggest cricket extravaganza of the year, the Indian Premier League (IPL) started last week and cricket lovers can look forward to seven weeks of colourful action.

Cricket

Several South Africans will be in action in the IPL this weekend. Six matches will be played between Thursday April 14 and Sunday, April 17.

On Thursday, the Gujarat Lions, with Dale Steyn in their midst, will play against the Rising Pune Supergiants. Faf du Plessis and Albie Morkel are members of the latter team.

On Friday the Delhi Daredevils (JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris and Imran Tahir) play against the KingsXI Punjab, with David Millar, Kyle Abbott and Farhaan Behardien as part of the team.

On Saturday, there will be two games. Firstly, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, without any local players, take on the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are coached by Jacques Kallis and have Morné Morkel in their midst.

Saturday’s second game is between the Mumbay Indians (Marchant de Lange) and the Gujarat Lions.

On Sunday, AB de Villiers and David Wiese will play for the Royal Challengers Banglahore against the Delhi Daredevils.

Rugby

This Saturday, the Bulls will play their last home game before they will go on tour to Australia. They will take on the Reds from Brisbane and the game starts at 17:05.

For the lovers of Club rugby, there are only two Carlton Cup games to watch. Tuks will play host to Naka Bulle, while Harlequins will play against Dragons on the latter’s fields in Pretoria-North.

Police will travel to Rustenburg to play in the alternative league against Impala.

Athletics

ASA’s National Track and Field Championships will be held from 15-16 April 2016 (this Friday & Saturday) at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch. Good athletics can be expected and several athletes will use this chance to try and qualify for the Olympics later this year.

The SoshMorula Running Club presents its annual half-marathon again on Saturday 16 April. The event consists of a 21,1km half marathon, a 10km road race and a 5km fun run and it starts an end at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve. The first two races starts at 06:30 and the fun run starts at 06:45. Enquiries at Kagiso on 072-436-4833.

Soccer

The Premier League soccer tournament continues this weekend and all three the local teams will be in action.

On Saturday evening, Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Jomo Cosmos at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. With the students of Johannesurg, Wits, blowing in their necks on the log, Sundowns cannot afford to lose this one. The game starts at 18:00.

On Sunday at 15:00, SuperSport United will run out in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium against Platinum Stars. This game starts at 15:00.

At the same time on Sunday (15:00), AmaTuks will take the field at Dr. Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, where they will play against Bloem Celtic. After their victory against Maritzburg United, AmaTuks desperately needs another win to try to move away from the bottom of the log.

Netball

The Brutal Fruit Netball League (NPL) continues at the Heartfelt Stadium (next to the Voortrekker Monument) this weekend. The first match between the Flames and the Mpumalanga Sunbirds starts at 18:00 and at 20:00 the Kingdom Starts play against the Fireballs.

On Saturday, the action starts at 12:00. Four games will be played on that day and the last games starts at 18:00. The home team (Jaguars) play against the Diamonds at 16:00.

On Sunday, action starts at 10:30 and the Jaguars play against the Southern Stings at 12:30.