Even though South African women’s domestic cricket is now professional in the top 6, the format that are played are still the same. On Saturday it’s the 50 over format and on Sunday it’s the T20 format.
This way of packing women’s cricket is something Cricket South Africa needs to look into. Professional players can’t play 50 over format and the next day a T20 over format. It still feels like the old amateur cricket, there was no hype about the season but the announcement event of women’s cricket will be professional and that was done in August. CSA needs to do better when promoting women’s cricket because they failed even with the world cup. Netball world cup promotion had much better visibility than the women’s T20 world cup.
The domestic fixtures kicked off this past Saturday but sadly Western Province versus the Dolphins was abandoned due to a wet outfield in Cape Town. So all the spotlight was on the Lions taking the newly promoted Free State.
The Bloemfontein based side revealed their marquee signing of the season in Mignon van der Merwe (du Preez). With Free State batting first Mignon did not disappoint as she scored 79 runs and the next day in the T20 format she scored 29 of 18 balls. Captain Yolandi Potgieter, was also a standout on both days. Her best contribution was in the T20 when she top scored for Free State with 32 of 25 balls.
Free State youngsters in Miami Smit and recently signed Anica Swart made good contribution and so did Zintle Kula.
Former South African Olympic medallist Sunette Viljoen at 39 years old stole the show with a 61 ball 73 against Free State. Sunette was well supported by Kirstie Thompson with a 89 not out in the CSA Women’s One-Day Cup. The Lions beat Free State with 5 overs to spare.
In the T20 format the story was the same as Sunette and Kirstie contributed with the bat. The Lions also unleashed their biggest marquee signing of the season in Shabnim Ismail on Free State. Shabnim did not pull back as she took 2 for 21 to help the Lions pull of a double over Free State.
Lions youngsters in Karabo Meso, Jenna Evans and Kelebohile Mkhize also made valiant contributions.
In Cape Town, Western Province proved to be too strong for the Dolphins with both bat and ball in the T20. The chief destroyer was Nosipho Vezi with 2 for 13 and Kayla Reyneke with 1 for 13. Andrie Steyn put the Proteas on notice with 61 for 55 runs to ensure a easy victory for the Capetonians.
Weekend’s Results – CSA Professional Domestic Women’s League:
CSA Women’s One-Day Cup – Division One (Saturday, 30 September)
DP World Lions beat Recon Tactical Free State by 6 wickets
Recon Tactical Free State: 247/6 after 50 overs; M. Smit 79* (91), M. du Preez 79 (95); K. Thomson 3/30, L. Meso 2/39
DP World Lions: 253/4 after 44.5 overs; K. Thomson 89* (89), S. Viljoen-Louw 73 (61); Y. Potgieter 2/56, M. Smit 1/17
Match abandoned due to rain
Western Province: DNB
Hollywoodbets Dolphins: DNB
CSA Women’s T20 Challenge – Division One (Sunday, 01 October)
DP World Lions beat Recon Tactical Free State by 7 wickets
Recon Tactical Free State: 126/6 after 20 overs; Y. Potgieter 32 (25), M. du Preez 29 (18); S. Ismail 2/21, K. Rapoo 2/24
DP World Lions: 128/3 after 18.5 overs; S. Viljoen-Louw 37* (34), K. Thomson 33 (20); Z. Kula 1/16, C. van Wyk 1/17
Western Province beat Hollywoodbets Dolphins by 7 wickets
Hollywoodbets Dolphins: 102/5 after 20 overs; C. Gouden 28 (34), K. Fisher 18* (15); N. Vezi 2/13, K. Reyneke 1/12
Western Province: 105/3 after 17.3 overs; A. Steyn 61* (55), K. Adams 29 (41), A. Candler 1/9, A. Hlubi 1/14
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