NCU Representative Directorate

The Northern Knights team to play North West Warriors in the T20 match on Friday 27th at Comber shows a number of changes from the teams who performed so well in both 3 day matches against Leinster Lighting in Dublin and Belfast.

Nigel Jones who doesn’t play the 3 day matches returns for the shorter version of the game at Comber after a match winning innings in the Irish Cup at the weekend for his club against Brigade.  With James Shannon being injured in the Ireland A match at Bready this week, Nigel will captain the team.

With fast bowlers Phil Eaglestone, Nathan Smith and Robert McKinley not available for selection the Knights have selected 9 times capped South African T20 International Rusty Theron (Instonians) and local North Down professional Pieter Malan. Malan showed his liking for the big stage with a century in a losing cause in the semi-final of T20 finals day last year, and has been selected to play at his home ground to add strength to the batting.

Chris Dougherty will return to his wicket keeping role and replaces Jamie Magowan who kept very well in the two three day matches.

On the back of two very promising performances in the long version of the game the Knights focus shifts to the shortest format and Knight’s 3-day opening batsman Nikolai Smith is looking forward to the change in format. “We've been really pleased with the progress over the first couple of three day games. We have played some really good cricket, keeping things simple under the leadership of captain James Shannon and the coaching team of Eugene Moleon and Gavin Rogers who have been able to get the group to gel really well together. The T20 on Friday night is another opportunity to showcase the other skill set that all the guys have and be given the chance to express themselves in a different way at Comber.”

The Knights will be looking to improve upon last season’s disappointing performance in the 20 over format and the players are keyed up to put in a good performance in their opening game of this season’s T20 tournament. Conversely the North West Warriors will be looking to rebound from a 41 run loss to Leinster in the opening tie of this year’s tournament in Dublin.

Knights Squad:

• Nigel Jones (captain) CIYMS)
• Chris Dougherty (CIYMS)
• Peter Eakin (North Down)
• Shane Getkate (CSNI)
• Jamie Holmes (Carrickfergus)
• Gary Kidd (Waringstown)
• Graeme McCarter (CSNI)
• Pieter Malan (North Down)
• Jacob Mulder (North Down)
• Nikolai Smith (Instonians)
• Rusty Theron (Instonians)
• Greg Thompson (Waringstown)