THE annual Hamilton and District Cricket Association T20 knockout competition gets underway on Thursday evening with all eight A grade clubs represented and will be chasing the Van Kalken Shield and $1000 prizemoney in three weeks.

Grampians v Macarthur

MACARTHUR will look to defend last summer’s title with an opening round game against Grampians at PP3.

Both clubs have won the competition previously and will be desperate to repeat the feat this summer.

The Demons swept all before them last season, as they smashed all opposition with scores over 210 for each of the three games they played.

Whether champion all-rounder, Charlie Nield, plays is to be determined, but if he does then the ball may well fly to all parts of the ground, as he has a top score of 170 in the format.

Kyle Smitten also has a century to his credit in the short format and is another player that can a game in hand from very few balls, while also bowling economically.

Add to these players the power of Simon Sharrock, Michael Brilley, Ollie Wortley, and Jack Wortley and the Demons has a top order that can score quickly.

If Nield plays then he will join Smitten, Josh Belleville, Brayden Buchanan, Charlie Summers, and Adam Fry in the bowling unit that will have to contain an in-form Pumas batting line-up.

Donald Collins has posted back-to-back A grade centuries in the last two home and away rounds, while Zach Burgess is in sensational form at number three as well.

Eddie McShane posted 50 in last round with the bat and Carl Joyce is a player that can explode into a game with either bat of ball.

Hamilton v College

HAMILTON will host College at Kennedy Oval West, which is the venue for the final on December 19, and on form the home side may struggle against the Eagles.

The Blues are at the wrong end of the premiership ladder, but this format lends itself to upsets and the Eagles will look to their talisman, Charles Murrie, at the top of the order to provide the fast start needed.

Murrie holds the key for both teams, as his style of ‘see ball, hit ball’ is exciting for spectators and can take a game away from the opposition in the space of two overs.

If Hamilton manages to dismiss him cheaply, it will put pressure on the rest of the College batting order to make a score their bowlers can defend, although Heath Schmidt, Adrian Burn, George Macdonald, and Jack Austin can all score quickly.

Hamilton needs the young batsmen within its squad to throw caution to the wind and not worry about losing their wickets, but rather score as quickly and freely as possible.

Issac Shaw, Xavier Stevens, Nick O’Brien, Mitch Lang, and Ethan Cook can all play the type of innings required to win these games, but they have to have the confidence to play their shots.

St Andrews v Tahara

ST Andrew’s hosts Tahara at PP1 and neither team has a history of success in the format, but one will advance to the semi-final stage this summer with a victory.

The Drews have never got the tactics right for this format, as it seems its batmen are trained to value their wickets in one-day and two-day games and not be frivolous.

Tahara has the game style to do well in the shortest format, as the Blue Caps have players like Marcus Rhook who excel at the aggressive batting style required for the T20 game.

Add Sam Brewer, Brad Gauci, and Taine Morris to the hitting power of Rhook and the Blue Caps have a batting order that can win these games easily.

The form of Brendan Huf with bat and ball is key to home team’s chances of advancement, as the veteran has been a shinning light again for the Drews this summer.

His 6-58 against a rampant Portland Tigers was outstanding, as the Tigers posted 350 despite his efforts in the last round of home and away games.

With Morris having switched to Tahara this season, the Drews have lost their big hitter from the club so there is an opportunity for a player to step up and assume the role.

Pigeon Ponds v Casterton District

PIGEON PONDS Recreation Reserve will be the scene of this derby game between these age-old rivals with each team full of players who can score quickly and take vital wickets when required.

Ben Holmes, Rick Killey, and Carey Megaw hold the key to a Casterton District victory with Kaden Humphries, Jacob Edwards, and Justin carlin all capable of providing great support.

Holmes, Carlin, and Megaw are the batsmen that can turn a game in the space of an over, while the bowling of Killey, Megaw, Humphries and Edwards is vital to the Maroons’ success.

The Pigeons will look to Simon Close, Michael Close, Peter Staude, and Ben Hanrahan to provide the power hitting required while Jack Beaton, Hamish McCrae, Simon Close, and George Austin must not bowl any loose deliveries if they want to contain the Casterton District batsmen.