The DP World Lions ladies team are in prime position ahead of their Pro50 Series match versus the Fidelity Titans in the last round of fixtures in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Kgomotso Rapoo's leading ladies are five points ahead of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, who travel to Cape Town to play third-placed WSB Western Province. So any sort of victory for #ThePrideOfJozi at the DP World Wanderers Stadium on Saturday will be sufficient for them to claim the 50-over title.
"We're very excited to have placed ourselves in this position and we just need to keep doing what we've been doing," head coach Shaun Pretorius said. "And it's a good final match-up as well being the Jukskei Derby. That being said, we don't worry about who is in front of us. We've done our research and it's up to the ladies to execute now."
The DP World Lions camp will be given a further boost by the presence of some of the country's premium cricketers in fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, hard-hitting allrounder Chloe Tryon and seamer Tumi Sekhukhune.
They will add to the already formidable line-up that features many of the stars of the Pro50 Series this season. Sunette Viljoen-Louw, Jenna Evans, Karabo Meso and Nonkhululeko Thabethe are among the leading batters in the competition, while spinners Raisibe Ntozakhe and Rapoo are the most successful pair of bowlers with 31 wickets between them. They are well-backed by allrounders Fay Cowling and Evans, while Proteas veteran Ayabonga Khaka has been sheer class with the new ball.
"To have Tumi, Shabnim and Chloe back in the squad is super-exciting. The experience and calmness they will bring to the changeroom as world-class cricketers, sharing their knowledge with the rest of the team, is priceless," Pretorius said.
PROTEAS IN ACTION
The DP World Lions' arch-rivals will be coming from Northern Gauteng to raid #ThePrideOfJozi's party, however, with their Proteas stars Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus and Anneke Bosch all expected to play.
"It's good for domestic cricket, it's nice to see all the Proteas in action in domestic cricket. Laura is one of the world's best, but she'll be up against our world-class bowlers. I can't wait!" Pretorius said.
The Dolphins, for so long first on the standings, were convincingly dispatched by that bowling attack in our DP World Lions' last match, being bundled out for 61.
But as exciting as the prospect of winning the one-day competition is, the DP World Lions' priority is to ensure they deliver on the plans that have worked so well for them this season.
"It's specifically our bowling that has really come together this season, they have really been sticking to their plans. I just say 'well done' to the analyst Siyanda Zulu for coming up with those plans and the bowlers have executed them really well.
"Fielding is also very important and against the Dolphins the catches stuck, with wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta setting the tone with that magnificent diving catch for the first wicket.
"With our batting, someone different has stuck up their hand every game. I can't wait for the whole top six to click because then that will be a fantastic innings. Hopefully this Saturday it will happen. But first, we have to just stick to ticking our boxes," Pretorius concluded.