WPCC grab momentum ahead of T20 play-offs
WPCC's Tom-Ellis Cole sends down a delivery during his side's Premier League match against Rondebosch, at the Terry Eksteen Oval on Saturday.
Image: Mark Ward
Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) delivered just the right boost ahead of the provincial T20 Community Cup play-offs, edging out log leaders Rondebosch in a tightly contested Western Province Premier League fixture at the Terry Eksteen Oval on Saturday.
Shawn Dyson’s side, chasing silverware on multiple fronts, sealed a four-wicket victory that has blown the title race wide open. Only a single point now separates the top four teams, with Rondebosch and Green Point tied on 24 points while WPCC and the University of the Western Cape close behind on 23 each.
The focus for WPCC now shifts to Stellenbosch, where they face Vander Stel, the Boland representative and the Southwestern Districts’ Pacaltsdorp United in this weekend’s Western Cape decider. The winner will advance to next month’s national play-offs in Johannesburg. Last year Durbanville won the national tournament.
Rondebosch Cricket Club's Lenert van Wyk of Rondebosch concentrate on playing a shot during his side's Western Province Cricket Association Premier League match against the WPCC, at the Terry Eksteen Oval on Saturday.
Image: Fuad Esack
Rondebosch, who elected to bat first, posted a competitive score of 214/9. Lenert van Wyk anchored the innings with a superb 75, supported by Shaughn Greanen and Matthew Christensen, who each contributed 34. The WPCC bowlers Jayden Rossouw (4/54) and Tom-Ellis Cole (2/23) applied sustained pressure to keep the hosts in check.
WPCC’s chase was powered by a blistering 65 from Ben van der Merwe, while Daniel Bosman (38), Derek Mitchell (27) and Nic Barlow (49) produced decisive middle-order runs to steer the visitors across the line.
Results:
UWC beat Durbanville, by one wicket; Cape Town Cricket Club beat Ottoman Cricket Club by 16 runs; Western Province Cricket Club beat Rondebosch Cricket Club by four wickets; Claremont Cricket Club beat Brackenfell Cricket Club by four wickets; |Bellville Cricket Club beat Rylands Cricket by 101 runs; Green Point Cricket Club beat Victoria Cricket Club by five wickets
WPCC's Kyle Simmonds during his stint with the ball in hand against Rondebsoch, at the Terry Eksteen Oval, on Saturday
Image: Mark Ward
WPCC's Tom-Ellis Cole and his team mates celebrates his first wicket during their WPCA Premier League match against the Rondebosch, at the Terry Eksteen Oval, on Saturday.
Image: Mark Ward