Club cricket season gets under way

Mark Ward|Published 5 months ago

Abdul-qadeer Salie of Ottoman is bowled out by Michal Lord of Cape Town Cricket Club during the Western Province Cricket Association’s opening round of the Community Cup T20 competition. Picture: Mark Ward

The Western Province Cricket Club (WPCC) and the University of the Western Cape top the tables in their respective groups after the opening rounds of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) Premier Division Community Cup competition.

The T20 series marks the start to the 2024/2025 season and continues on Sunday while the opening round of the One Day series will start on Saturday with champions Rondebosch at home to Brackenfell.

Mujahid Toffar of Ottoman plays a safe shot during the Western Province Cricket Association’s opening round of the Community Cup T20 competition against Cape Town Cricket Club. Picture: Mark Ward

No champions were crowned last season after the competition was abandoned in the semi-final stage due to boardroom issues involving player registration issues.

The WPCC set Bellville a modest target of 121/7 in their allotted 20 overs the with bowlers, led by Justin Behrens (2/11), restricting the hosts to 113/7 to clinch the match by eight wickets. Oliver Whitehead recorded 2/14.

They went on to move to the top spot in Group 1 with a resounding 133-run win over Kraaifontein in the second match with Givon Christian in superb form with a brilliant unbeaten of 126 off 68 balls. His innings included seven fours and nine sixes to give Kraaifontein a target of 197/2.

Hayden Byrne (2/17), Bulumko Brukwe (2/8) and Justin Behrens (2/14) were the pick of the WPCC bowlers who helped to skittle out Kraaifontein for 64 in 16.4 overs.

In Group 2, UWC recorded wins over Green Point (3 wickets) and Cape Town Cricket Club (eight wickets) respectively and now prepare for their One Day campaign which starts on Saturday against Milnerton. The students were ruthless, beating Green Point by three wickets with left arm spinner Asakhe Tsaka taking 2/10.

The 21-year-old Tsaka produced another good performance in his side's second win of the day against Cape Town by grabbing 3/20.

Michal Lord of Cape Town Cricket Club celebrates after taking the first wicket during the Western Province Cricket Association’s opening round of the Community Cup T20 competition against Ottoman. Picture: Fuad Esack

Ottoman, meanwhile, got a rude awakening on their return to the Premier Division when they went down in both their matches played at the UWC sports grounds.

Cape Town, with newly appointed coach William Hantam at the helm, beat Ottoman by seven wickets with Michal Lord taking 3/9 in four overs. Ottoman, coached by former Proteas player, Fahaan Behardien could only manage to score 57 runs in 15.4 overs with Imraan Philander (12) the only batter to reach double figures.

This Saturday’s fixtures: One Day Cup

Green Point vs Bellville; Rondebosch vs Brackenfell; Cape Town Cricket Club vs Claremont; Western Province Cricket Club vs Durbanville; Kraaifontein vs Ottoman; UWC vs Milnerton

T20: Sunday: at Vineyards, at 10am: Claremont vs Kraaifontein; at 2pm: Bellville vs Kraaifontein; at Wally Wilson Oval, at 10am: Western Province Cricket Club vs Brackenfell; 2pm: Brackenfell vs Rondebosch