Photo Credit: Sydney Seshibedi Gallo Images
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the KwaZulu-Natal Inland are ready for the challenge that lies ahead this weekend, when the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Women’s Provincial One-Day and T20 Cup fever rolls into town between 29 – 30 October.
In a first division clash, the Dolphins will face off with the DP World Lions at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, while Division Two’s KZN Inland host Limpopo at the Pietermaritzburg Oval in a double of dose of 50-over and T20 cricket on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
In the other Division One matches, the only team left with a hundred percent record in the Six Gun Grill Western Province will go head-to-head with the Fidelity Titans in Cape Town, as they aim to continue their sublime form in both competitions.
Meanwhile, the Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers will play the North West Dragons in their first home match of the 2022 / 23 season since their promotion into the Top 6.
Ahead of this weekend’s match-up against the Lions, Dolphins head coach Angelique Taai is insistent on having her side focus on themselves rather than the opponent, while she shares the importance of consistency as well as their focus for the rest of the campaign.
“We would just like to stay focused on ourselves as a team instead of looking too much into the opposition,” the former Momentum Proteas player said. “It is important for us to take care of our own space and the plans we’ve put in place from the analysis we did on them as a team,” she added.
“It is important to get a good start and build on it throughout the season. Consistency just lays a stable platform from the start, and it just give the ladies so much confidence and belief.
“Our main focus was always on the 50 over competition but we would like to improve on our T20 performances as well throughout the season,” Taai added, with the Dolphins currently second in the One-Day Cup and mid-table in the T20 competition after one win in three.
The Dolphins’ provincial neighbours, KZN Inland, have their own battle on their hands in Pool B against Limpopo as they form part of three Division Two contests over the weekend, including the tie between Kei and Free State at the Khaya Majola Oval in Mthatha. Mpumalanga will also make the short trip over to the Kimberley Oval to take on the home side, Northern Cape.
In constructing their game plan, the Tuskers and head coach, Richard Hlela are wary of opponents Limpopo but remain concentrated on their actions, centering their preparations around being mentally tuned in, while also looking ahead towards the remainder of the season.
“Limpopo have played two fixtures this season; the first fixture was up against Mpumalanga, and they won. Their second match was up against Easterns, where they lost. So, they will come to Pietermaritzburg, and they will put up a big fight and they will want to win the match,” Hlela began.
“Limpopo is a strong team, and they play good cricket and know how to win matches. We are focused on our game and the controllables that we can control, and just staying strong.
“Preparations have been key, but the most important thing has been the mental toughness and how I motivate the players when they are down or when things are not going according to our plans,” he continued.
“We have ambitions for the season, but we are focusing on our remaining matches, taking it one game at a time and not forcing matters if it is not happening.
“There is no team that wants to lose any fixture at this time, and we will try by all means to make sure that we play good cricket,” the coach said.
The weekend’s action will be streamed live on Pitch Vision and YouTube, with updates available through @ProteasWomenCSA on Twitter and Instagram.
Week 5 Fixtures:
CSA Women’s Provincial One-Day Cup:
Saturday, 29 October –
Division One –
10h00 SAST – Six Gun Grill Western Province vs Fidelity Titans (Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town)
09h30 SAST – Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs DP World Lions (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
10h00 SAST – Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers vs North West Dragons (Six Gun Grill Recreation Ground, Outshoorn)
Division Two –
10h00 SAST – Kei vs Free State (Khaya Majola Oval, Mthatha)
09h30 SAST – KwaZulu-Natal Inland Tuskers vs Limpopo (Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg)
10h00 SAST – Northern Cape vs Mpumalanga (Kimberley Oval, Kimberley)
CSA Women’s Provincial T20 Cup:
Sunday, 30 October –
Division One –
10h00 SAST – Six Gun Grill Western Province vs Fidelity Titans (Six Gun Grill Newlands, Cape Town)
09h30 SAST – Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs DP World Lions (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead, Durban)
10h00 SAST – Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers vs North West Dragons (Six Gun Grill Recreation Ground, Outshoorn)
Division Two –
10h00 SAST – Kei vs Free State (Khaya Majola Oval, Mthatha)
09h30 SAST – KwaZulu-Natal Inland Tuskers vs Limpopo (Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg)
10h00 SAST – Northern Cape vs Mpumalanga (Kimberley Oval, Kimberley)
