The naturally beautiful Newlands was the venue for two pulsating provincial encounters between Western Province and the North West Dragons in the CSA Provincial One Day Cup and Three-Day Provincial Cup last weekend.

North West’s cricket was not so rosy against the Capetonians as they lost both encounters on their trip. The 3-Day Provincial Cup match ended in a seven-wicket win for Western Province. A top bowling and batting performance resulted in a comfortable victory for André Malan’s team against his former province. North West was put into bat and could only compile 141 all out with Richardt Frenz top scoring with 46 (88).

It was a poor batting performance from North West as Western Province’s bowlers, Mpilo Njoloza (3/24) and Michael Cohen (4/29) cashed in. Western Province then built a substantial lead as they stroked their way to 288 all out. Justin Dill (80 from 119) hit a vital knock after WP had staggered at 155–6 at one stage, thanks to the experienced NW spinner, Johannes Diseko’s (6/71).

The Dragons’ batting once again failed to fire in the second dig and they were bowled out for 202. Shane Dadswell impressed with his 74 (171) but the rest of the batsmen struggled to cope with good bowling and a deteriorating pitch. WP then had the easy task of hitting the required 56 for victory and the former North West stars, Isaac Dikgale and Malan took their team over the line against their former employers. It couldn’t have been scripted better for WP on their home turf.

The One Day Cup match was a tighter affair on Sunday with WP edging out a 17-run win against the Dragons. North West elected to field first and struck first with Jon Hinrichsen and Brady Barends getting the wickets of Jack Newby and Matthew Kleinveldt early on. It was once again Dikgale (58) who showed his class, together with the experienced Avi Mgijima (78) as they stroked WP to a total of 250/7 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Yassir Cook (65 off 98) and the star of the Dragons line up, Yaseen Valli (99* off 128) did their best to squeeze out a victory but ran out of balls and batsmen. Valli was unlucky not to reach his century, which would have been his third A-list century in provincial One Day Cricket.
Valli has had a tough time since joining the Dragons and this will give the talented left-hander a lot of confidence. Valli stroked four fours in a patient knock. North West was always going to face an uphill battle, though, after finding themselves at 11/3 after six overs. The chief destroyer for WP was the young 18-year old, Mihlali Mpongwana, with 3/37 who bowled with accuracy to restrict the opposition.
The North West Dragons will next face Boland at home from 7-8 March and will need to regroup and refocus ahead of the upcoming encounter at Senwes Park.