The SWD provincial team got their preparation for the 2018/19 season of to a good start when they defeated Eastern Province by 6 wickets in a friendly warm-up fixture that was played at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn last week.
With Namibia, withdrawing from the competition, SWD’s opening match will be against Boland in Paarl from 25 October. This match gave coach, Baakier Abrahams, plenty of time to prepare for a challenging season.
Eastern Province, after being 76/7, posted 152 in their first innings with Solomzi Nqweni (36) and Keenan Smith (47) the top contributors with the bat. Bradley de Villiers (4/30) and Stefan Tait (3/14) excelled with the ball. SWD, thanks to contributions from Letlotle Sesele (53), Kirwin Christoffels (29), Jean du Plessis (31) and Yamkela Oliphant (40) posted 227 (all out) in their first innings for a lead of 75. Former SWD bowler, Glenton Stuurman, bagged 3/50 for the visitors.
In their second innings, EP again managed to recover after being at 109/7. The recovery came from Keenan Viera (81) and Keenan Smith (39) and enable them to post 212. Marcello Piedt (4/23) and Tsepo Ndwandwa (2/35) were SWD’s best bowlers.
With a target of 137 SWD reached the winning score with 6 wickets in hand but the home team batted until they reached 189/9 when the match was called off. Letlotle Sesele (28), Jean du Plessis (31), Obus Pienaar (27), Brendon Louw (49*) and Yamkela Oliphant (30) all got some much-needed batting practice. For EP Luvuyo Adam (3/33) was the pick of the bowlers.
SWD’s fixtures for the season are:
- 25-28 October 2018 vs Boland 3 day and 1day (Eurolux Boland Park)
- 1-4 November 2018 vs Kwa Zulu Natal Inland 3day and 1day (Pietermaritzburg Oval)
- 8-11 November 2018 vs Western Province 3day and 1day (Oudtshoorn)
- 22-25 November 2018 vs Northerns 3day and 1day (Oudtshoorn)
- 29 Nov – 2 Dec 2018 vs Northern Cape 3day and 1day (Oudtshoorn)
- 6-9 December 2018 vs Border 3day and 1day (Buffalo Park in East London)
- 10-13 January 2019 vs North West 3day and 1day (Senwes Park in Potchefstroom)
- 7-10 February 2019 vs KwaZulu Natal 3day and 1day (Oudtshoorn)
- 14-17 February 2019 vs Easterns 3day and 1day (Willowmoore Park in Benoni)
- 28 February – 3 March 2019 – vs Eastern Province 3 day and 1 day (Oudtshoorn)
Letlotle Sesele
