NC Heat XI raring to go in CSA 4-Day series

LOCAL cricket franchise the NC Heat, the CSA T20 KO runners-up, have shrugged off their loss in the final of the shortest format and have turned their sights onto the looming CSA 4-Day Domestic Series which kicks off next Thursday at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley.

Despite the setback for the team in the CSA T20 KO final at Buffalo Park, East London last week, the Northern Cape franchise’s finest were hard at work in the nets at their home turf in the Diamond City as of the beginning of the week.

In last week’s T20 encounter the Diamond City had set the SA Under-19s a target of 142 after scoring 141/5 in their innings. The junior national side reached the target, getting to 142/6 in 19.1 overs.

Mark Charlton, NC Heat head coach, may have been using the short format series as a live assessment of his charges following a team rebuilding exercise he had engaged in over the recess period before the tournament.

Charlton remarked about the final, “For the CSA T20 KO we won our group stage and went to play the semi-final against the Tuskers. We did very well in that game. We dominated the game and were able to come off with a win, which we are obviously very proud of.

“Because of that game we went through to the final against SA Under-19. Unfortunately, we lost in that final. There was a very good innings by the SA Under-19 captain George van Heerden who had put them over the line.

“I am pretty happy with the whole competition,” Charlton added. “Even though it was a competition to be won it was not a massive focus area for us in terms of getting to division one.”

The provincial franchise will, at the start of the four-day series next week, set about defending the title they won last season.

The NC Heat mentor said he was looking forward to the competition which they had won convincingly the last time. In the last outing in the four-day series, middle order batsman Kagsio Mogale had put in a memorable innings netting a double-ton in the process which saw the NC Heat take the series.

Charlton said he was aware that it won’t be easy going for his side. “We will probably lose some games along the way but as long as we come out at the top.

“We’re looking at putting pressure on (other) teams. We lost a couple of good players which is not ideal but then we got some good players in return. Most of our players have some good runs under the belt.

“So we hope that we can put in some good performances.”