Western Province will face the defending champions, Lions, in the final of the annual Khaya Majola Cricket Week in Cape Town on Friday.
Lions snuck into the semifinals through the back door after securing their first victory of the tournament on the third day. On Thursday Pranav Raichetti (106*) scored the first century of the week to help his team secure an eight-wicket win over the Dolphins in their semifinal.
Raichetti faced 112 deliveries, hitting 16 boundaries. He and opening batsman Jason Rowles (75) shared a 143-run partnership for the second wicket.
Dolphins’ captain, Ross Coetzee (63), has also had a good tournament with the bat so far. Rowles (2/36) and Cole Francis (3/26) boasted the best bowling figures.
WP had little trouble defeating their neighbours by five wickets in their semifinal. Boland was bowled out for just 104 thanks to a five-wicket haul by Raeeq Daniels (5/25).
Christiaan Wege (32) was the only visiting batsman who offered any resistance.
The hosts’ Kashief Joseph (45) and Adnaan Lagadien (24) made the most significant contributions with the bat for their team.
KZN Inland, after being bowled out for just 79 against Eastern Province, might have thought they were destined for a promotion/relegation playoff. However, the team’s spinner, Chad Mason (5/35), led them to a 12-run victory with his second five-wicket haul of the week.
Eastern Province will face the Garden Route Badgers to determine which team will compete in the Platinum division next year. In the other promotion/relegation match, Free State will fight against North West to retain their place in the Platinum division.
Titans defeated the Free State by 100 runs in their clash. The team from Pretoria posted 211/5 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to solid contributions from Wian Ruthven (52), Divan de Villiers (48*), and Lethabo Phahlamohlaka (43).
Free State could only reply with 111 runs, with Christian Kind (42) offering the most resistance.
Garden Route Badgers defeated CSA Invitational team by five wickets. The winning team’s spinner, Enathi Kitshini, first took three wickets for just 20 runs with his bowling before scoring 28 runs with the bat. His teammate Camron Avontuur (76) was the standout performer with the bat.
North West successfully defended a modest total of 109 runs by bowling out Easterns for just 87 runs.
Marneau Dreyer (3/10), Barend de Klerk (2/28), and Tumelo Makume (2/16) inflicted the most damage for the winning team. Eastern’s Sabelo Mabanga (3/16) and Parth Patel (3/19) also produced commendable bowling figures.
SUMMARISED SCORECARDS (Limited Overs):
Boland 104 (Christiaan Wege 32; Raeeq Daniels 5/25, Timothy Short 2/23); Western Province 106/5 (Kashief Jospeh 45, Adnaan Lagadien 24; Taywin Adams 2/25, Callum Appollis 2/47). Western Province won by five wickets.
Dolphins 218/8 (Ross Coetzee 63, Max Robertson 29, Ntando Soni 25; Cole Francis 3/26, Jason Rowles 2/36, Corné Botha 2/59); Lions 219/2 (Pranav Raichetti 106*, Jason Rowles 75; Armaan Manack 23; Shahzaad Perumal 1/23). Lions won by eight wickets.
KZN Inland 79 (Extras 19; Cayden Wilson 4/15, Jadwyn Cona 3/25); Eastern Province 67 (Cayden Wilson 18; Chad Mason 5/35, Marcel Wellmann 3/8). KZN Inland won by 12 runs.
Titans 211/5 (Wian Ruthven 52, Divan de Villiers 48*, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka 43, Steve Stolk 27; Free State 111 (Christian Kind 42; Nayleo Sanna 3/32, Mohammed Borobat 2/11, Sahil Ahmad 2/13). Titans won by 100 runs.
CSA Invitational XI 146 (Vihan Pretorius 31, Zuko Pontshi 24; Enathi Kitshini 3/20, Trent Huisamen 2/15, Stefan May 2/40); Garden Route Badgers 150/5 (Camron Avontuur 76, Enathi Kitshini 28; Adam Cannata 2/32). Garden Route Badgers won by five wickets.
North West 109 (Tumelo Makume 36; Sabelo Mabanga 3/16, Parth Patel 3/19, Tshegofatso Nthara 3/25); Easterns 87 (Sabelo Mabanga 37; Marneau Dreyer 3/10, Barend de Klerk 2/28, Tumelo Makume 2/16). North West won by 22 runs.
Border 102 (Tré Gilbert 28; Nicolas Oerlemans 3/28, Morema Kamogelo 2/4, Mahlodi Sekuba 2/31); Limpopo Impalas 103/5 (Enock Marima 41*, Nicolas Oerlemans 29; Lithemba Nomoyi 3/24). Limpopo Impalas won by five wickets.
Northern Cape 163 (Junaid Jacobs 49, Extras 31; Sibonelo Skhosana 3/23, Alonzo Blakenberg 2/22); Mpumalanga 122 (Extras 20; Nathan Baird 4/38, Simon Liversage 2/23). Northern Cape won by 41 runs.