Province has kicked off their campaign in fine style with two wins the Sunfoil Three-Day Cup. The KC Sunshine Band would have approved with their song: “That’s the way I like it,” if they were Western Province-fans.
Dayyaan Galiem underlined his talent with a knock of 55 in the first innings and 5-60 as opening bowler in the second.
Much has been made of his talent since he played for Rondebosch Boys High’s first team at a tender age and also represented the South African u.19-team. He is a fast bowler who can swing it at a pace of beyond 135 km/h and can be destructive with the bat.
His performance in Oudtshoorn is a step in the right direction.
The 24-year old left-arm spinner GF Linde produced a masterpiece in the first innings, capturing 5-10 as the hosts were bundled out for a paltry 128. It was Linde who first gained prominence two seasons ago when he took 14 wickets for the Cape Cobras in their triumphant Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Linde is steadily improving.
Linde also struck 52 in the second innings for Province as they managed 155.
Malan assembled 55 in the first innings, while Engelbrecht, who was such a star with the bat at the back-end of the 2015/2016-season in the Sunfoil Three-Day Cup, struck 98.
Peter finished the game off with 3-14 and Province celebrated.
In the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge in Pool A at the same Recreational Ground on Sunday, Western Province capped off their successful visit to the Southern Cape with a comprehensive 8-wicket win.
The hosts struck 227 for nine. Engelbrecht ended with 3-28 as off-spinner and Galiem took 2-33.
Shaheen Khan and Engelbrecht featured in an unbeaten 157-run partnership for the third wicket as the visitors coasted to an emphatic wicket with five overs to spare.
Khan struck 79 off 97 balls with six fours and two sixes. Engelbrecht was more circumspect bot not less effective as he finished unbeaten on 73 off 102 deliveries with five boundaries.
“It is gratifying to see how the semi-professional team has started their series with a bang instead of a stutter. They have been on song, confident and full of enterprise. I am confident that they will consistently reproduce this form to emulate their predecessors who reached the three-day finals,” said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA).