Eye on prize for defending champions
THERE is something very special brewing with the Chatsworth Sporting Women’s team.
Thrilling with both bat and bowl, they have skittled teams from across the province with an aggressive and exciting brand of cricket.
It’s been almost two-and-a-half years since they lost a game in any format.
The two-time defending champions meet Lindelani at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in the final of the KZN Cricket Union T20 final today in a repeat of last year’s title decider.
Coach Larry Gounden has built a solid outfit whose success seems to know no boundaries. Victory against Lindelani will hand them a third successive title, a feat never achieved by the club before.
“There is no doubt that this is a special group of players. They have worked very hard to get to where they are. I am very proud of them and the way in which they represent themselves and the community they come from,” Gounden said.
At the heart of Sporting’s success is a core of senior players coupled by a group of exciting youngsters.
Former Proteas all-rounder
Dinesha Devnarain continues to play a major role with both bat and ball.
KZN under-19 skipper, Courtney Gounden is fast emerging as one the country’s brightest talents while skipper Dheyanka Naidoo drives the team from the front.
“We have a very well-balanced team who work well together. We have also seen players like Nadia Mohammed and Jade de Figueredo perform consistently,” Gounden added.
He said the key to their success lay in their discipline both on and off the field.
“We have six players in the
KZN Women’s senior team who are training regularly. They also make time to attend club training sessions,” he said.
“They have set the tone for the youngsters who do not miss a training session at the Chatsworth Oval.”
Lindelani have struggled against Sporting in recent years but Gounden has warned his team against complacency.
“We respect every team we go up against, that is one of our big philosophies,” Gounden said.
“Lindelani have done well to reach another final. They have improved and we know that if they start well, they can be very competitive. We have to be ready and play with confidence.”