KNOW YOUR TEAM: PRETORIA CAPITALS

It certainly did not take long for the Pretoria Capitals to gain the love of the adoring Centurion faithful with a remarkable maiden Betway SA20 Season 1.

The Capitals were the form team throughout the competition as they led the league table for most of the way, finishing top of the standings after the group stage to become the first team to qualify for the semifinals with two matches still remaining.

Their form on the road was exemplary, but it was at their Centurion home ground where they were particularly formidable. Fortress Centurion was breached just once in five matches when a whirlwind century from Durban’s Super Giants Heinrich Klaasen blew them away in a dead-rubber game.

The Capitals were runaway favourites for the inaugural Betway SA20 title, but just to prove sport always throws up the unexpected, there was unfortunately no fairytale ending with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape coming out victorious in the grand showpiece final at The Wanderers.

For their efforts, though, they did have five players in the top 10 of most runs (Will Jacks) and most wickets (Anrich Nortje, Eathan Bosch, Jimmy Neesham and Adil Rashid).

There’s no doubt Graham Ford’s team will be eager to go one better in Season 2, especially after being able to retain the magical Will Jacks. The Englishman was sensational at the top of the order last season as he blasted 270 runs in seven matches at an average of 38.57 and astonishing strike-rate of 201.49.

The Capitals will be though be holding thumbs that fast bowling spearhead Anrich Nortje recovers in time for Season 2 from his long-term injury, especially after he claimed 20 wickets at an average of 13.25 with an economy of 6.18.

They are adequately covered though with Season 1 Betway SA20 Rising Star Eathan Bosch ready to take his game to the next level and Migael Pretorius and Daryn Dupavillon in reserve.

COACHING STAFF

Graham Ford (head coach), Jacques Kallis (assistant coach), Dale Benkenstein (assistant coach), Bongani Ndaba (fielding coach)

SEASON 2 SQUAD

Matthew Boast, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell, Theunis de Bruyn, Daryn Dupavillon, Colin Ingram, Will Jacks (ENG), Senuran Muthusamy, Jimmy Neesham (NZ), Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell (captain), Migael Pretorius, Adil Rashid (ENG), Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt (ENG), Paul Stirling (IRE), Steve Stolk, Kyle Verreynne.

New signings: Corbin Bosch (trade-in from Paarl Royals), Matthew Boast (auction), Paul Stirling (IRE – auction), Kyle Verreynne (auction), Daryn Dupavillon (auction), Steve Stolk (rookie), Phil Salt (Wildcard).

Outs: Marco Marais (trade-out to Paarl Royals), Cameron Delport, Josh Little (IRE), Kusal Mendis (SL), Shaun von Berg, Clyde Fortuin, Patrick Kruger.