The North West Dragons players are fresh from a short cricketing break over the festive period and ready to tackle the South Western Districts in a CSA Provincial 3-Day Cup encounter today (10–12 January).
It has been an up and down season for Monty Jacobs’ charges this season with two wins, two losses and a draw after five hard-fought matches. SWD is just above the Dragons in second place on the table with 77.4 points. North West is currently on 63.8 points and desperately needs a win to catch up to the group B leaders, Northerns, who are yet to lose a match this season.
It was this very Northerns outfit that North West played their previous match against late last year, which ended in a draw. A batting paradise greeted these two sides during their 3-Day CSA Provincial encounter at Senwes Park from 13 to 15 December last year with the run-friendly surface ensuring the draw.
Northerns batted first and compiled 471 all out with Victor Mahlangu cashing in with a fine 169.
The experienced Leus du Plooy also strutted his stuff with a superb knock of 110, while Ruben Hermann hit a solid 76.
North West’s response was not of the highest quality in the first innings and they were bowled out for 222. Only Richardt Frenz, who had been struggling for runs provincially, made an impression on the scorecard with a 49. Lesego Senokwane, with 42, and the returning Nicky van den Bergh with 40 also contributed without building on solid starts. Northerns sent the Dragons back in to follow on and this time the home side made hay with the bat and compiled a score of 221/3 to ensure a draw. Van den Bergh (66*) Jonty Rapulana (47*) and Yaseen Valli (59) pitched in to snuff the hungry Northerns bowlers on the final day of play.
North West will now be shifting their attention to SWD and will hope to secure a win in their whites and use the home-ground advantage to take down the men from Oudtshoorn.

Fixtures:
CSA 3-Day Cup: North West vs SWD 10-12 January 2019
CSA One Day Challenge: 13 January.