Wayne Parnell says he wouldn’t mind playing rugby against the Springboks, while Jesse Kriel believes he can trouble the Proteas by “bowling with the wind” when the two national teams clash in the Nelson Mandela Legacy Cup at Newlands.
The T20 showdown is back for a third edition following events in 2013 at Newlands and 2014 at the Wanderers, with the purpose of raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Foundation and celebrating the life of Madiba.
It will take place at Newlands on Thursday, December 8 as a precursor to the Cape Town Sevens at the Cape Town Stadium on the Saturday and Sunday.
Cricket South Africa’s head of commercial and marketing, former Proteas spinner Clive Eksteen, said at the launch at Newlands on Friday that the target set is R1 million.
“The day promises to be lots of fun, but also serve as a memory to the legacy left behind by our late president, Nelson Mandela, as we celebrate the contribution he has made to our beautiful country. Hopefully we can raise a big cheque,” he said.
Media analyst at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Lunga Nene, said: “The Legacy Mandela Cup takes place as we mark the third anniversary of Madiba’s passing. Supporting his legacy is more important than ever. It is also a thrill for us to be able to celebrate Madiba through sports, which as we know helped him accomplish a lot to bring people together.”
@WayneParnell's plans for @JesseKriel15's bowling! @CapeTimesSA @TheCapeArgus @WeekendArgus @OfficialCSA @Springboks #MandelaLegacyCup pic.twitter.com/0DbU3OYAye
— Ashfak Mohamed (@ashfakmohamed) November 11, 2016
But the Boks are intent to preserve their “unbeaten” record at the event, and utility back Kriel got the ball rolling when he challenged Parnell at Newlands. “I hope to bowl with the wind behind me against Wayne,” Kriel said. “We’re keen to come out here and test the Proteas, and show the guys what the rugby guys can do on a cricket field.
“I played cricket at Maritzburg College and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I had to make a decision in Grade 11 to play rugby, but I really enjoyed my cricket and I loved being out on a field on a Saturday. I was an all-rounder – come in at number five and bowl a bit.”
Parnell wasn’t too impressed with the chirp, and his excitement perhaps got the better of him when he said that he would like to “play a rugby game” against the Boks as he was a flyhalf at school. “Left-armers usually bowl from the Kelvin Grove End, Jesse, and I’ll look to hit you into the Oaks!”