Teams will ease themselves into this year’s TCL Premier League season with two weekends of Twenty20 matches.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Teams will ease themselves into this year’s TCL Premier League season with two weekends of Twenty20 matches.
Separate from the championship-deciding 40-over format, T20s in 2018 are not played for points – generating a pre-season feel to the shortest format.
Last year’s preliminary finalists CRESSY and HADSPEN will clash in the match of the round at Cressy Oval.
Both sides will be without respective captain-coaches Damian Whybrow and Liam Reynolds, with Bulldogs recruits Scott Driessen and Clinton Moore to face their old side for the first time.
“Just because it’s a T20 we won’t be taking it lightly – well be having a crack,” Whybrow said.
“Hadspen have always been a competitive side and we look forward to playing them.”
Reynolds said the Chieftains would have three debutants – opening batsman Thanuka Dabare, fast bowler Sameera Vishwaranga and all-rounder Sithara Perera.
Defending champions LONGFORD will face-off against a new-look ACL side at 1pm with Adam Smith to miss through suspension.
Country Tigers captain-coach Josh Adams said his charges are wary of an “unknown” ACL outfit and are keen to defend their trophies.
Bluebacks boss John Kedey said Cameron Martin and Anuradha Dissanayaka would be missing from his best XI.
“It’s always good playing the reigning champions in both competitions early on and with the competition not being for points, it will allow us to play with some freedom,” Kedey said.
“Our primary focus is 40-over cricket, not that we’re not going out to win, but we’re just looking to see where we’re at as a club.”
A double-header at Beauty Point Oval will be started with a match between Premier League newcomers PERTH and TREVALLYN.
There will be plenty of fresh faces taking part for both sides, while the final match on Saturday will see hosts BEAUTY POINT and LEGANA go head-to-head.
Jason Savage and Sam Cooke are unavailable for the Tamar Tigers with captain-coach Rob Crane hoping his players “can blow out some cobwebs”.
Beauty Point defeated the Durhams in a practice match last weekend and Crane is hopeful they can do it again.
“We haven’t had much of a pre-season but we went all right last week,” he said.
“I reckon Legana might struggle a bit this year but they are led pretty well by [Geoff Stick] so hopefully they can get a few wins – just not this week.
“It will be a good early-season test for us.”
ROUND 1 FIXTURES
Twenty20 competition
CRESSY OVAL
10am: Cressy v Hadspen
1pm: Longford v ACL
BEAUTY POINT OVAL
10am: Perth v Trevallyn
1pm: Beauty Point v Legana
While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox. Sign up here.