On Sunday, Pieter Malan (84) and Zubayr Hamza (51) also guided Western Province to an emphatic eight wicket win against Border in the CSA provincial one-day competition.
But Western Province’s greatest triumph was that five-wicket win. Michael Cohen, an 18-year old former South African U19 player who, at first glance, looks more like a scrumhalf than a left-arm swing bowler, completed a match-haul of 6-49 in his first first-class game and looked like the real deal.
Kyle Verreynne, also a former U19 player, produced a swashbuckling unbeaten 79 off 77 balls and featured in an unbeaten 102-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the 20-year old Dayyaan Galiem to take the hosts to the required 161 for victory.
Malan impressed again in the first innings with his 61.
Western Province’s final match is a cross-pool game against KwaZulu-Natal Inland at PPC Newlands from 23 to 25th March.
But North West is still in a favourable position to overtake Western Province. They will tackle Eastern Province from 9 to 11th March at St. George’s Park, and the struggling Southwestern Districts at Senwes Park from 23 to 25th March.
Province must continue their attacking and explosive style, a fearless approach which almost resembles the Stormers of 2017-vintage in the Super Rugby campaign, if they want to clinch their must-win game against KwaZulu-Natal Inland at PPC Newlands.