As the year winds down, the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Women’s One-Day Cup and T20 Cup levels up with a full round of Division One fixtures after an extended break due to the Momentum Proteas training camp earlier this month.
In the headline encounter of the Top Six matches, the spirited Hollywoodbets Dolphins host the undefeated Six Gun Grill Western Province at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
Another eye-grabbing clash will be the repeat of the Juskei Derby this season as the DP World Lions take on the Fidelity Titans at the DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, the North West Dragons will have a chance to revenge their 50-over and T20 whitewash received at the hands of the newly promoted Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers earlier in the campaign, when the two sides face off in Potchefstroom this weekend.
All three matches will be streamed live on CSA YouTube Channel from 09h30 SAST.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s exciting contest, Dolphins coach and former Momentum Proteas player, Angelique Taai touched on their season thus far, opponents Western Province and what they were up to during the fixture break.
“Unity is key to our success – team first,” she began. “The players play and fight for each other. Being open and honest with each other is very important.
“I am not a coach who likes to single out one aspect that needs improvement, but rather always look to improve in all facets of the game as the season unfolds,” the coach said.
“Western Province have a strong pool of players who have a lot of experience playing at a higher level.
“It will be key for us to stay focused on our processes and execute our game plan,” Taai continued.
Despite allrounder Nondumiso Shangase, fast bowler Nobulumko Baneti as well as Trisha Chetty and Nonkululeko Mlaba being away at the Proteas camp in East London, the Dolphins still made the most of their interval.
“There was no break for the rest of the players. We worked on their skills while some of their teammates attended the camp and we also had an intra-squad match, which included our U19 Girls players,” Coach Taai mentioned.
Western Province head coach, Claire Terblanche shared her sentiments ahead of their latest round of matches as they seek to continue their unbeaten record in both competitions this season.
“The Hollywoodbets Dolphins ladies, lying second on the log behind us, will be a good matchup for us between the top two provinces on the log,” she commented.
“The one that executes their skill and good running between the wickets will come out strong. That’s if the weather doesn’t play a role in any of the results, but I think it is going to be a good competition over the weekend between the both of us.
“There’s been some really good improvement over the season and this week is going to be a close one.
In her assessment of WP’s hundred per cent record during the season, Terblanche noted:
“We played some really close games and some really good cricket, and it’s down to the players and how they are applying themselves and their skill set in the partnerships they are creating.
“Hats off to the players because they really doing well. They are really putting their hard work on display out in the middle and if we can just move ahead and keep doing what we are doing, Western Province is going to have a good season,” the coach added.