Potch Dorp Cricket Club is the new North West community-based T20 champions after winning the provincial qualifying tournament with a 5-run victory against Impala from Rustenburg.

North West Cricket hosted the qualifiers in Potchefstroom from 3–4 November and the top six    community-based clubs in the premier league took part.

The final between Impala and Potch Dorp was a real nail-biter. Potch Dorp’s bowlers, J.P. le Roux and Barend de Klerk secured the win with tight bowling at the death.

The Potch Dorp batsman, Richardt Frenz, scored a crucial 63 off 52 to take Dorp to a respectable 145/9 in their 20 overs.

The standout performers for Potch Dorp were Richardt Frenz and Faan Nel with the bat and J.P. le Roux who picked up a 5/16 in the group stages with his right-arm fast bowling.

Frenz also notched up two 50s during the tournament with Nel hitting a couple of 40s and a 57 (30) in the semi-final against Klerksdorp Travellers.

According to the Potch Dorp captain, Stefan Gericke, his side showed a lot of guts in the final, where his bowlers pulled the game back after it      looked like Impala had the upper hand.

‘They needed 42 runs from 42 balls with seven wickets in hand at one stage. JP and Barend bowled well in the final overs to get us across the line,’ he added.

Potch Dorp will now represent North West Cricket against the winners of Central Gauteng Lions (Delfos Cricket Club), the franchise community-based T20 cup qualifiers on 11 November.

The winner will take part in the Multiply community-based T20 cricket week from 6 to 8 December.