After a lengthy and arduous process commencing in September 2012, the final Western Province age group teams were announced  at Sahara Park Newlands on Monday, 06 May 2013. The teams will participate in various Cricket South Africa (CSA) national tournaments in December 2013.

Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), General Manager Nabeal Dien said, “Thanks and appreciation must go out to all our selectors as well as all the volunteers who assisted with the process. As is common place each year there will be elation for many as well as disappointments.

“Success is a journey fraught with many obstacles, failures and challenges and those who are able to continue to stand up are the ones who really taste success in the final analysis. Let us wish all the teams and their respective managements well with their preparations for the various tournaments in December 2013.”

The under 19 Girls team will only be finalised after the winter the programme.

The teams:

Under 13 “A”
Jonathan Bird (Bishops Prep), Samuel Henderson (Somerset College), Chase Hermanus (Wynberg Boys JS), Brent Johnson (Wynberg Boys JS), Michael Mondry (SACS JS), Nazeem Noor (Wynberg Boys JS), Riaz Paleker (Wynberg Boys JS), Josh Schippers (Wynberg Boys JS), Guy Sheena (Herzlia Highlands), Ali Akbar Sheik (Rondebosch East PS), Tatenda Shuttleworth-Richardson (Tafelberg PS), Ian Smit (Bastion PS), Adam Tomlinson (Primrose CC), Dean Anthony (Coach), Nathier Gamieldien (Manager).

Under 13 “B”
Thomas Burton (Bishop Prep), Kyle Damonze (Forres Prep), Reece Engelbrecht (Sunlands PS), Stefan Fourie (Chesterhouse), Gabriel Gad (Reddam Constantia), Divesh Gihwala (St. Georges Grammar), Matthew Mingo (Wynberg Boys JS), Okhule Minyi (Bishops PS), Imraan Mohamed (Hyde Park PS), Ethan Nates (Herzlia Constantia), Yusuf Orrie (Fairview PS), Joshua Pistorious (Sun Valley PS), Wilhelm van der Merwe (Eversdal PS), Xolani Lallo (Coach), Waheed Waggie (Manager).

Under 15 “A”
Justin Barodien (Bergvliet HS), Jesse Christensen (Wynberg Boys HS), Cullum Diem (Bishops), Mika Ekstom (WBHS), Gavin Kaplan (RBHS), Phillip Kleinhans (Brackenfell HS), Mike Mavovana (RBHS), Max Pike (RBHS), Matthew Roman (Chesterhouse), Muhammad Hamza Saloojee (RBHS), Tyla Scarles (Bishops), Waleed Smith (Hottentots Holland HS), Suhail White (RBHS, Niaz Ahmed (Coach), Nathaniel Brache (Manager).

Under 15 “B”
Josh Breed (WBHS), Evert Carstens (Stellenberg HS), Doriano Claassen (WCSS), Michael Cohen (Reddam Constantia), Clyde De Beer (Bishops), Wade Dollman (WBHS), Joffvre Duminy (RBHS), Scott Holing (WBHS), Donovan Opie (Bergvliet HS), Abongile Ranyana (WCSS), Jeffrey September (Muizenberg HS), Khaleel Tayob (RBHS), Mujaahi Toffar (Claremont HS), Jerry Malilwana (Coach), Maheed Cassiem (Manager).

Under 17 “A”
Ziyaad Abrahams (WCSS), John Joshua Bowers (Muizenberg HS), Michael Cohen (Herzlia PS), Murray Commins (RBHS), Ismaeel Gafieldien (RBHS), Taariq Hendricks (WBHS), Ryan Klein (RBHS), Robin Kriel (WBHS), Dyllan Matthews (WBHS), Justin Rowe-Roberts (Bishops), Tyler Sylvester (WBHS), Ncedo Tywaku (WCSS), Kyle Verreynne (WBHS), Tayo Walbrugh (RBHS), Russel Sissing (Coach), Bevil Velensky (Manager).

Under 17 “B”
Aaqil Ebrahime (SACS), Jordan Flax (Bishops), Emmanual Kind (Steenberg HS), Siphelele Mavanda (WCSS), Thandani Nyombolo (WCSS), Cameron Ryan (WBHS), Sauleigh Rayned (Pinelands HS), Justin Rowe-Roberts (Bishops), Qasim Salie (Grassy Park HS), Nicholas Scott (WBHS), Muzammil Sheik (RBHS), Schaugn Van Greunen (Fairmont HS), Osric Wakefield (WCSS), Esmund van Wyk (Co-Coach), Bulelani Libazi (Co-Coach).

Under 19 Girls Winter Squad
Diedre Adams (DF Malan HS), Melandie Beck (Brackenfell HS), Miche Bennett (Bergvliet HS), Megan Denny (Rustenberg HS), Lara Goodall (Pinelands HS), Ashton Heldsinger (Norman Henshilwood HS), Irma Human (Brackenfell HS), Insaaf Ismail (Islamia College), Melecia Jantjies (Atlantis SS), Megan Kannemeyer (Bernadino Heights HS), Hlumelo Mati (Sans Souci Girls HS), Suriya Naidoo (Windsor HS), Emily Norris (Pinelands HS), Elzette Potgieter (Brackenfell HS), Rencia Pretorius (Stellenberg HS), Tala Ross (Claremont HS), Saarah Smith (Wynberg Girls HS), Laura Wolfvaardt (Parklands College), Liane Karsten (Coach), Shahieda Majiet (Manager).

Under 19 “A”
Mogamat Zain Allie (Westerford HS), Matthew Christians (RBHS), Dawood Christians (SACS), Clyde Fortuin (St. Josephs College), Dayyan Galiem (RBHS), Zubayr Hamza (RBHS), Yolisa Mona (WCSS), Riaz Sader (RBHS), Kay Skovgaard-Petersen (RBHS), Jay Stevens (RBHS), Jean Strydom (Bellville HS), Hayes van der Bergh (RBHS), Keegan Wheeler (SACS), Clinton Ravens (Coach), Allan Cyster (Manager).

Under 19 “B”
Clement Abrahams (Belhar HS), Quintin Dreyer (WBHS), Bryan Edwards (WBHS), Wian Engelbrecht (Brackenfell HS), Jason Fourie (St. Josephs College), Chad Johnson (Elkanah House), Adli Mokwa (Pinelands HS), Aphiwe Mxabanisi (Zisukhanyo HS), Gregory Oliver (Brackenfell HS), Lyle Rogers (WBHS), Daniel Russell (Bishops), Devon van Rensburg (RBHS), Nicki Zeeman (WBHS), Paul Jacobs (Coach), Allie Abrahams (Manager).

The Western Province Cricket Association announces with sadness the passing of Thembinkosi Bennett Hewe, who has worked as a groundsman at Sahara Park Newlands for some 25 years. Born on 6 September 1960 in Middledrift in the Eastern Cape heartland of black cricket, he died this afternoon, 25 April, in the Khayelitsha District Hospital in Cape Town of diabetes-related renal and pancreatic failure.

CEO, Andre Odendaal commented, “The flags are at half-mast at Newlands in tribute to someone who has for a quarter of a century tended and nurtured with care this famous piece of turf. It will not be the same for us tomorrow without Bennett being on the roller or walking in that upright way of his across the outfield”.

Hewe acted for two years as head groundsmen between the curatorships of Christo Erasmus and Evan Flint. But, he will be remembered most, said Odendaal, for his quiet behind-the-scenes work with his mentor James Sebezo, preparing countless pitches for the world’s best to perform on. In the old days he would have been just another nameless face on the cricket round-about, but to us he was a gentle colleague and human being who we will miss deeply, and who deserves to be remembered for his contribution to the game.

Mr Hewe leaves behind his wife Phumla Cynthia  Hewe and three children, Azizipho, Ayakha and Aluncedo Hewe. The sympathies of the entire Western Province cricket family go out to them.

Vuyisa Makhapela returned unbeaten for 116 runs to give Good Hope Cricket Club their first victory in the 2013 Momentum Club Championships in Pretoria on Wednesday. In a match that went down to the wire, they beat St Patrick's College Cricket Club (CC) by a single run to get a thoroughly deserved win coming off a nine-wicket loss the previous day.

Good Hope won the toss and batted first in the Section One match, posting 276/6, the highest total in today's matches. Abongile Sodumo also made a good contribution of 73 runs to help his side to the competitive score.

Griffon Niewoudt, who tops the Leading Batting Averages table in the tournament, was the leading run scorer in St Patrick's spirited reply, he made 81 while Maghiel Britz, Gerhard Abrahams and Diego Rosier added 52, 43, 36 respectively. The bowlers needed to keep the run rate low, but St Patrick's fought all the way to the end, falling just one run short. Lucky Phangabantu and Akhona Ngwana were the most noteworthy with the ball, returning with 3/34 and 2/54.

In other Section One matches, Rassie van der Dussen  continued his good form, scoring 110 to lead ABSA NWU-PUKKE to a 42-run victory over Kovsies CC. Van der Dussen won the toss and chose to bat and, along with Wihan Lubbe (53) and Ruan Kruger (34), batted their side to 266/8 in their 50 overs. Former SA U19s bowler, Corné Dry took 4/66 while Leonard Killeen claimed 3/27.

Kovsies managed 224 before they were bowled out in the 47th over. Garnett Kruger, Hussein Alli and Stefan Gericke took two wickets each. Lennert van Wyk and Ian Finlay were the most notable batsmen, scoring 68 and 54 respectively.

At the Mamelodi Oval, Benoni Northerns were completely outclassed by a rabid ABSA Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Madibaz bowling attack that saw them bundled out for 46 after Matthew Kennedy took the lead with four wickets for 19. Anrich Nortje and Corbin Dolley were outstanding in their bowling efforts, taking 3/11 and 2/1 respectively.

It took 8.2 overs for NMMU to chase down the total with Umar Abrahams and Edward Moore top scoring with 23 and 22* respectively for the win. The Madibaz remain on top of the their section's log with 15 points, followed by PUKKE on nine and Kovsies on five.

In Section Two, the Steinhoff Maties won the Western Cape derby when they served a 106-run drubbing to Cellect Cellular Western Province CC (WPCC) at Sinovich Park. Maties posted 225/6 in their allotted overs thanks to Philippus van Vuuren and Emile Kriek who posted 69 and 63 respectively.

The bowlers hardly gave them room to breathe as Stephanus Fourie took four wickets for 29 while Carl Raubenheimer and Dewald Botha took two sticks each. WPCC were all out for 119.

Union Stars suffered their biggest defeat yet when they were thrashed for 159 runs by Assupol TUKS. Michael Faasen's incredible fifer (5/9) saw the Stars skittled out for 60 in reply to TUKS' 209/9.

At theTUT Oval, Stephen Cook (90) and Devon Conway (55) lead Gunn & Moore Old Edwardians to a 77-run victory over the Hollywoodbets.Net Crusaders. They posted 241/9 after winning the toss and batting first. Malcolm Nofal took three wickets while David Sator and Etienne Gerber took two each to restrict the men from KZN to 164.

The log is a lot tighter in Section Two, TUKS are still the leaders with 13 points, just three points ahead of Maties. Old Eds are just one point behind Maties on nine, while the Crusaders take fourth place with five points.

Thursday will see the last day of the round-robin phase where teams will fight for a spot in the semi-finals and ultimately the final at SuperSport Park that holds a R50 000 pay cheque for the ultimate winners.

We will once again be offering a mini cricket course for all interested mini cricket coaches, parents or school learners over the age of 16 years.

Please complete the attached form and return it to the fax number below.

Courses are scheduled to be held in the South Club, Sahara Park Newlands.

MINI-CRICKET COURSE (10 hours)

DATES: 
Course One: Tues 14th May/Tues 21nd May /Tues 28th May /Tues 4th June 2013
                   (4 Modules)
TIME:      From 15h00 to 17h30 daily
(Attendance on all days is required)

Course Two: Thurs 16th May/Thurs 23th May/Thurs 30st May/Thurs 06th June 2013
                    (4 Modules)
TIME:      From 15h00 to 17h30 daily
(Attendance on all days is required)       

Interest candidates can contact contact the Thulani Zideba (Mini Cricket Coordinator) on the contact details below.

For further details on Mini-Cricket contact: THULANI ZIDEBA:(O) 021 657 2086 (Fax) 021 657 2060 (Cell) +2771 887 8947
EMAIL: thulani@wccricket.co.za

The Mecer NMMU Madibaz made their intentions for the 2013 Momentum National Club Championships known, when they beat North West PUKKE CC by a whopping 182 runs on the opening day of the competition in Pretoria on Monday.

Edward Moore lead the run scoring with 77 while Anrich Nortje consolidated the commendable batting display with an outstanding spell in the Section One match, returning with five wickets for a mere 13 runs in seven overs to get his side a convincing  victory.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Madibaz posted a competitive 284/6 in their  50 overs. Peter Fusternburg, James Price and U Abrahams scored 65, 58 and 43 to give their side the highest total of the day. In reply, the PUKKE batsmen were ill equipped to deal with the onslaught of Nortje and S Magala, who took 3/23 in five overs. They were bundled out for 102.

"We did really well today, the batters set up the match nicely for us to come in and bowl with ease, it was a really good, overall team performance," Nortje, who also received the Man of the Match award said.

In Section Two, and the most anticipated match of the day, Assupol TUKS came out on top when they met the G&M Old Edwardians at the TUT Oval.

Old Eds, as they are more commonly known, won the toss and put TUKS in to bat first. They made 243/6 in their allotted overs with Ernest Kemm continuing his high scoring ways from the CSA Colts and Future Cup tournaments with 83 before he was dismissed.

Blake Snijman got Old Eds off to a good start with 69, assisted by Neil McKenzie (44). The fall of wickets did not help but Devon Conway and Stephen Cook added 37 and 31 respectively to get their side close to the target. TUKS, as the defending champions were determined to win however, piling on the pressure to produce their win.

In the other Section One matches, last year's runners up, Steinhoff Maties completely dominated the Union Stars from the South Western Districts with a resounding ten-wicket victory, while Benoni Northerns CC got off to a perfect start when they pulled off a nine-wicket win over St Patricks College CC.

In the other Section Two matches, the Hollywood Bets.Net Crusaders CC got off to a positive start after they served a 36-run defeat over Western Province CC (WPCC) thanks to M Alexander's 6/24 to bowl WPCC out for 142, defending the Crusaders' 178/8.

The last match saw Kovsies Cricket Club's match against Good Hope CC reduced to 40 overs when travel complications saw the latter arrive to their match late. Kovsies did extremely well to post 249/9 in their innings thanks to L van Wyk (62), Andries Gous (52) and H Roberts (47) and in spite of Lucky Pangabantu's 4/47 and Thembela Mbada's 3/62.

Good Hope only managed 186 before they were skittled out by a concerted bowling attack that saw L Killeen, Dwaine Olivier, Keegan Rafferty and JJ Naude take two scalps each. Kovsies won by an impressive 63 runs.

Day Two will see the Madibaz taking on Good Hope at St Albans College, North West PUKKE taking on Benoni Northerns at TUKS Oval and Kovsies going up against St Patricks College at Irene Country Club in the Section One matches. In Section Two, Old Eds take on Maties at Sinovich Park, TUKS go up against the Crusaders at Memorial Park and Union Stars face Western Province at TUT Oval.

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras have welcomed Proteas batsman Hashim Amla, who will be joining the team for the 2013/14 season. ‘It  is a big compliment that one of the greats of the world game has decided to join us” said WCC Chairman, Beresford Williams.

CEO Andre Odendaal echoed these views, saying: “I do not think we fully appreciate yet how highly history will measure Hashim’s value to South African cricket and, besides his brilliance on the field and humility off it, he will add to a diversity that the Cobras prize  – and believe to be a precondition for excellence and success.”      

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras have won five trophies in the last three seasons and coach Paul Adams wants to keep the success graph going upwards: “We understand that Hashim will not play a lot for us, but he adds depth and aura to a brand that we want to make the best. He is the perfect guy to have in any team.”   

All three of the recently-announced Wisden Cricketers of the Year from South Africa are now Cobras players, and no less than eight Cobras currently have National Proteas contracts. Five of the eight are among the star black players in the country.

The WCC Chairman stressed in conclusion that WCC did not try to lure Amla away from his old franchise. He said: “We regret any breakdown that may have occurred there, but we now welcome him with open arms and trust he will grow further as a person and player with us.”

Notes:

For media queries please contact Professor Andre Odendaal - Andre Odendaal [andre@wccricket.co.za]

First and Second Division (1A-2A) clubs displayed their talents of the shorter format of the game of cricket in the finals of the WPCA Ama20 Competition at Sahara Park Newlands over the weekend.

In Saturday’s games, Fish Hoek Cricket Club (CC) beat Somerset West CC by 26 runs to win the 2012/13 Ama20 Competition for Division 1D.

Krisnan Oosthuizen smashed 93 not out off 51 balls to give Atlantis CC a 71-run win over Blue Bells CC to be crowned champions for Division 2A.

In the last game for the day, Bellville CC beat Cape Town CC by three runs to win the Division 1A Ama20 Competiton.

In Sunday's games, Bellville CC Womens beat Old Mutual CC Women in the Women's final to win the ladies Ama20 trophy.

Milnerton CC beat Edgemead CC by 8 wickets to claim the Division 1C Ama20 trophy and in the last game for the weekend, Faiz Kippie took five wickets for just seventeen runs for Montrose CC in the Division 1B final between Montrose CC and St. Augustine CC. Montrose CC won the match by seven wickets  to be crowned Division 1B Ama20 Competition Champions for the 2012/13 season.

Winners:

Division 1A Ama20 Competition:  Bellville CC
Division 1B Ama20 Competition: Montrose CC
Division 1C Ama20 Competition: Milnerton CC
Division 1D Ama20 Competition: Fish Hoek CC
Division 2A Ama20 Competition: Atlantis CC
Women’s Ama20 Competition: Bellville CC

The Western Province Cricket Coaches Association (WPCCA) will once again be running the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Level One Coaching Courses for all interested candidates.

The duration of the courses is 18 hours (6 x 3 modules) and will take place on the following days:

Course 1:

Dates: 7 May, 9 May, 14 May, 16 May and 21 May 2013.
Times: 17h30 to 20h30 each day
Venue: Bellville Technical High School, Bellville South.
Evaluation date: Tuesday, 28 May 2013 from 15h00.

Closing date for course registrations : MONDAY, 29 APRIL 2013

Course 2

Dates:-
Monday 24 June 2013 (2 modules), 09h30 to 12h30 and 13h30 to 16h30.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013 (2 modules), 09h30 to 12h30 and 13h30 to 16h30
Wednesday, 26 June 2013 (1 module), 09h30 to 12h30
Venue: Sahara Park Newlands
Evaluation date: Friday, 28 June 2013 from 09h00.

Closing date for registrations: FRIDAY, 14 JUNE 2013

All interested candidates may contact Paul Phillipson (WPCA Coaching Manager) on paul@wccricket.co.za; or 021 657 2013.
          

Western Province (WP) put an end to their two-season final disappointment when they emphatically beat Gauteng by  nine wickets to claim the 2012/2013 Cricket South Africa (CSA) Women's Provincial League championship at the Bidvest Wanderers on Saturday.

In what was a decidedly one sided match, Gauteng were overwhelmed by a ruthless WP side that was determined to win after featuring in finals for the past two seasons and coming up empty in the end. They take home the championship and R20 000 in prize money, which features in the competition for the very first time this season.

Four ducks and a top score of 23 by Kirstie Thomson were simply not good enough in a final against their determined foes as Gauteng were bundled out for 76 in 32 overs.

The first wicket fell at the end of the first over as Shabnim Ismail removed her first of three wickets for the day as Robin Searle departed for a duck. It took another 10 overs for the second wicket to fall, but as soon as Thomson was gone, Nonkululeko Thatbede (0) was removed, followed by Savanna Cordes for 10.

Gauteng were 44/5 in the 17th over when they lost Jessica Engelbrechdt (2) to a run out thanks to the quick hands of Robyn Appels. Captain, Cri-Zelda Brits and Chené Bester tried to revive the innings but only managed a 22-run partnership for the sixth wicket before the skipper was dispatched for 12 by Leighshe Jacobs.

Ismail claimed the two wickets of Bester (16) and Jameelah Shaikjee (0) in the 30th over to leave their hosts reeling on 74/8. Tayla Wilmot succumbed to Moseline Daniels to finish off the painful assault after Yumna Plowker retired hurt without scoring.

In their batting reply, WP were clinical starting with a 37-run opening partnership by Appels (40*) and Carolyn Esterhuizen (12) before the latter was removed by Thomson. The subsequent 40-run partnership Appels shared with captain Alexis le Breton (21*) took the team all the way to victory, ending the match in just 24 overs.

Breton is delighted to finally win the trophy after two seasons of losing in the final. "This is such a satisfying win for us because every single person in the team contributed to us getting here. When the national team players were gone, the youngsters stepped up and did the job and this is just the result of all that hard work," she said.

WP coach, Cobus Roodt is thrilled with his side's achievement.

"The team played like champions today. They deserve this win because they went after what they wanted and didn't spare a thought for anything but their goal and most importantly to me, they did it as a team. It's been a very long season and for us to end it with a league victory away from home makes it just that much more special," he commented.

Kurt Human is a disappointed Gauteng coach today, but he is proud of the season his side has had.

"Our batting let us down today," he said. "We prided ourselves in our batting and for some reason it went horribly wrong today.  We spoke about batting out our overs and that just didn't happen but this is part of the learning aspect of the game."

Human does not believe in looking at only the bad, he prefers to pay attention to the good that his side can take from the season as a whole.

"Even though we missed out on the win, I am still proud of the team for getting this far. They gave their all this season and they have laid the foundation for the next one. A hard lesson was learned today and we will allow it to sink in and discuss it later but for now it's time for us to relax and rejuvenate so that we are back to full fighting strength when the season begins," he concluded.

This weekend will see the culmination of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) Ama20 Competition taking place at Sahara Park Newlands on Saturday, 13 April 2013 and Sunday 14 April 2013. Fifty cricket clubs playing in the first and second divisions (1A – 2A) of the WPCA Club Cricket leagues competed in the Round Robin stages of the Ama20 competition early this season and Somerset West Cricket Club (CC), Fish Hoek CC, Atlantis CC, Blue Bells CC, Bellville CC, Cape Town CC, Bri-ton Liftmaster Edgemead CC, Milnerton CC, Montrose CC and Jive St. Augustine CC all progressed to the Semi-Finals and subsequently booked their spots in the finals.

Fish Hoek Cricket Club will be hoping to finish the season with a treble after they won the 2-Day and the 1-Day competitions this season.

In the women’s department, this year for the first time the Women’s Cricket Ama20 Club final is also going to be played at the World’s Second Best Cricket Ground, Sahara Park Newlands. Bellville CC Women’s team will take on Old Mutual CC Women’s on Sunday.

Activities on both days include a KFC Mini Cricket Activation area, which will be set up on the snake pit for all the mini cricket kids to enjoy. Local newspaper, Die Son together with the WP Cricket television programme, From the Clubhouse will be doing media coverage of the event.

A designated braai area will be activated behind the snake pit for everyone wishing to braai.

Entry to the stadium on both days is FREE. Cricket lovers who cannot make it to the ground on both days can follow us on twitter, @wp_cricket and Western Province Cricket Association on facebook.

Fixtures:

Saturday, 13 April 2013

Division 1D: Somerset West CC vs Fish Hoek CC (10h00)
Division 2A: Atlantis CC vs Blue Bells CC (14h00)
Division 1A: Bellville CC vs Cape Town CC (18h00)

Sunday, 14 April 2013

Women’s Cricket: Bellville CC vs Old Mutual CC (10h00)
Division 1C: Bri ton Liftmaster Edgemead CC vs Milnerton CC (14h00)
Division 1B: Montrose CC vs Jive St Augustines CC (18h00)