The Cape Cobras are set to take on the Northern Knights in a Champions League Twenty20 match on Friday, September 19.
The teams are set to face off at Chhattisgarh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur starting at 8 p.m. IST (4:30 p.m. SAST, 2:30 p.m. GMT; 2:30 a.m. NZST on Saturday).
The match will be broadcast on Star Sports in India, Supersport in Africa, and SKY TV in New Zealand.
It will also be broadcast on Astro in Malaysia, Gazi TV in Bangladesh, PTV in Pakistan, Eurosport in the United Kingdom and Europe, ESPN in the United States and South America, Sportsnet in Canada, OSN in the Middle East, Star Cricket in Sri Lanka and the rest of South East Asia.
Live streaming will be available through most broadcasters.
It will be the first match of the tournament for the Cobras, who finished runners-up in the Ram Slam T20 challenge in South Africa, while the New Zealand Knights made it through the qualifying phase with three convincing wins.
Both teams are in Group B along with the Kings XI Punjab, Barbados Tridents, and Hobart Hurricanes.
The Cobras suffered a big blow after losing JP Duminy to a knee injury, although there are many other experienced players on the squad.
“The unavailability of JP Duminy is certainly a blow to the Cape Cobras. Yet there is plenty of experience in the side and players who are capable of stepping on to the big stage to make up for Duminy’s absence. Hashim Amla is ranked among the top batsmen in international cricket today; he may not have set the T20 stage on fire, but he has an insatiable hunger for runs and has the knack of accumulating runs without too much fuss,” notes the official tournament website.
Batsman Richard Levi, skipper Justin Ontong, and all-rounder Justin Kemp are expected to have a strong tournament as well.
“The Northern Knights will bank on Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who were sensational in the three qualifying stage matches, to bowl with the same level of intensity. Opposition batsmen have found the combination of swing, pace and discipline too lethal. In the three qualifying stage matches, the pair returned with combined figures of 20-0-111-12,” added the preview.
Kane Williamson, Anton Devcich, and Daniel Flynn lead the batting order.
After this match, the Cobras will take on the Hurricanes on Sunday in Hyderabad while the Knights will take on the Hurricanes on Tuesday in Raipur.
See the full squads below.
Cobras
Justin Ontong (C), Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Richard Levi, Aviwe Mgijima, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Zakhele Qwabe, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas (W)
Knights
Daniel Flynn (C), Ish Sodhi, Jono Boult, Brad Wilson, Kane Williamson, BJ Watling (W), Graeme Aldridge, Anton Devcich, Tim Southee, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Daniel Harris, Scott Styris, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner
