Defending champions of the women’s national provincial cricket league Western Province enjoyed a spectacular 8 wickets win over a totally outclassed Northerns at Goodwood, Cape Town on Saturday 6th March in a semi-final clash for the 2009/2010 title. Northerns won the toss and batted first and were soon in trouble, losing the early wicket of Marizanne Kapp to Ashlyn Kilowan. When they lost another two quick wickets the innings was teetering on the brink of disaster at 28 for 3 wickets after 10 overs. Things went from bad to worse with wickets falling regularly to tight bowling and excellent catching, and the score deteriorated to 32 for 7 after 16 overs. A lull of 9 overs in the destruction saw 22 runs added for the 8th wicket, but the last 3 wickets fell in quick succession and Northerns were all out for 56 in the 33rd over. Northerns’ five South African players scored less than 20 runs between them. Spinner Leighshe Jacobs headed the bowling stats with 4 wickets for 11 runs off 6 overs. Both quickies got wickets – Shabnim Ismail 2 for 26 off 8 overs and Ashlyn Kilowan 1 for 7 off 5 overs. Medium pacer Alexis le Breton and off-spinner Robyn Appels wrapped up the tail, taking 2 for 4 and 1 for nought respectively. The highlight of the innings was the superb catching led by Shandre Fritz who pouched three excellent catches at slip. With 50 minutes to go to the luncheon break, Olivia Anderson and Alexis le Breton got the Province innings off to a careful start, but both fell with the score on 24. Leighshe Jacobs with 20 not out, Shandre Fritz (who retired during the luncheon break because of illness) and Robyn Appels knocked off the remaining runs in the 19th over without further loss. Best bowling figures for Northerns were registered by Marizanne Kapp with 1 for 16 and Dane van Niekerk with 1 for 23. “Our bowlers and fielders did a brilliant job” said a proud Western Province coach Cindy Thomas “and the three slip catches by Shandre Fritz were superb”. Western Province will meet KwaZulu Natal in the final of the national provincial championship in Durban on March 20. If Western Province succeed in winning the title it will be their fourth triumph in five years. | 
