Club Cricket SA’s Team of the Season: 2023-24 WPCA FIRST DIVISION A

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Jordan Woolf cricketJordan Woolf.

Posted By: Editorial March 27, 2024

An independent panel of judges selected Club Cricket SA’s Team of the Season for the 2023-24 Western Province Cricket Association first division A.

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1. Mujaahid Toffar (captain, Ottoman Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 21, runs: 939, average: 59, strike rate: 79, highest score: 117 not out | Wickets: 24, average: 13, economy rate: 3.3, best figures: 5/17

Toffar was the highest run-scorer in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. His four centuries were twice as many as any other batsman in the first division A. Toffar captained Ottoman Cricket Club to promotion to the 2024-25 premier league.

Mujaahid Toffar cricketer

Mujaahid Toffar.

2. Jason Clothier (Pinelands Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 22, runs: 667, average: 37, strike rate: 62, highest score: 66

Clothier was the fifth highest run-scorer in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. He hit the second most fours overall – 82. The left-handed opening batsman was Pinelands Cricket Club’s top run-scorer in the 2023-24 first division A.

Jason Clothier cricket

Jason Clothier.

3. Mbulelo Nkomo (Gugulethu Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 21, runs: 749, average: 39, strike rate: 54, highest score: 103 | Wickets: 16, average: 24, economy rate: 4.2, best figures: 3/26

Nkomo was the third highest run-scorer in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. He was one of only six batsmen to score five or more half-centuries. The spinning all-rounder also had a strike rate of 34 with the ball.

Mbulelo Nkomo cricket

Mbulelo Nkomo.

4. Rushdi Jappie (Brackenfell Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 22, runs: 926, average: 58, strike rate: 64, highest score: 117 | Wickets: 25, average: 16, economy rate: 3.4, best figures: 5/24

Jappie was the second highest run-scorer in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A – and key to Brackenfell Cricket Club’s promotion to the premier league in 2024-25. He was the only player to score 500-plus runs and take 25 or more wickets.

Rushdi Jappie cricket

Rushdi Jappie.

5. Joshua Chippendale (Strandfontein Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 19, runs: 684, average: 38, strike rate: 76, highest score: 108

Chippendale was the fourth highest run-scorer in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. He was one of only three players to score six or more half-centuries. His strike rate was the second highest among the top five run-scorers in the 2023-24 first division A.

6. Jordan Woolf (Pinelands Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 22, runs: 656, average: 36, strike rate: 78, highest score: 83 not out | Wickets: 18, average: 28, economy rate: 4.2, best figures: 3/21

Woolf’s move to Pinelands Cricket Club from Western Province Cricket Club brought premier league pedigree to the first division A. The seaming all-rounder also took a five-for in their T20 title win at Newlands.

7. JP Matthysen (wicketkeeper, Brackenfell Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 18, runs: 598, average: 33, strike rate: 119, highest score: 79

Matthysen hit the joint most sixes in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A – 29. He also had the highest strike rate among the top 40 run-scorers. He effectively beat the University of Cape Town Cricket Club’s Gabriel Gallmann-Findlay to the wicketkeeper-batsman berth in this XI.

8. Marcel Rautenbach (Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 22, wickets: 35, average: 16, economy rate: 4.5, best figures: 5/43 | Runs: 161, average: 15, strike rate: 49, highest score: 47

Rautenbach was the sixth highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A – and key to Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club’s third-place finish. The left-armer’s bowling strike rate of 21 was the third best among the top 30 wicket-takers.

9. Zubair Safodien (Ottoman Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 18, wickets: 36, average: 11, economy rate: 3.6, best figures: 6/32 | Runs: 69, average: 12, strike rate: 44, highest score: 27

Safodien took the fifth most wickets in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. The right-arm seamer’s bowling strike rate of 19 was the second best among the top 30 wicket-takers. He was key to Ottoman Cricket Club’s 2024-25 premier league promotion.

10. Aython Adams (Tygerberg Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 20, wickets: 48, average: 13, economy rate: 3.6, best figures: 5/50

Adams was the second highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A – and the most prolific seamer overall. He had the third best strike rate among the top 15 bowlers – and fourth cheapest economy rate among the top 10.

Aython Adams cricket

Aython Adams.

11. Solly Pieters (Brackenfell Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 21, wickets: 59, average: 10, economy rate: 3.3, best figures: 6/12

Pieters averaged almost three wickets per match throughout the 2023-24 WPCA first division A to finish at the top. The off-spinner had three entries in the top 10 bowling performances of the season – all six-wicket hauls. He, too, was key to Brackenfell Cricket Club’s promotion to next season’s WPCA premier league.

Solly Pieters cricket

Solly Pieters.

12th man: Stephen Dourans (Strandfontein Cricket Club)

  • Matches: 21, wickets: 37, average: 14, economy rate: 3.3, best figures: 3/9

Dourans took the fourth most wickets in the 2023-24 WPCA first division A. The spinner’s economy rate was the best among the top 15 bowlers. Dourans retired at the end of the 2023-24 WPCA first division A.

WPCA first division A Team of the Season – in summary and batting order

  1. Mujaahid Toffar (captain)
  2. Jason Clothier
  3. Mbulelo Nkomo
  4. Rushdi Jappie
  5. Josh Chippendale
  6. Jordan Woolf
  7. JP Matthysen (wicketkeeper)
  8. Marcel Rautenbach
  9. Zubair Safodien
  10. Aython Adams
  11. Solly Pieters

Remainder of 15-man squad

  • 13. Ismaeel Galant (United Cricket Club)
  • 14. Reeve Cyster (Northerns Goodwood Cricket Club)
  • 15. Gabriel Gallmann-Findlay (University of Cape Town Cricket Club)

Stats correct as per WebSports: 27 March 2024.

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