Western Province named the XI for Thursday’s T20 Challenge fixture against the Tuskers in Pietermaritzburg.
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University of the Western Cape Cricket Club left-arm seamer Liyema Waqu was selected. Waqu took a seven-wicket haul in a Western Province Cricket Association premier league fixture against Claremont Cricket Club earlier this month. This is his first professional T20 fixture for Western Province. He has played for South Africa Under-19.
Seamer Mbulelo Dube and all-rounder Abdallah Bayoumy returned to the Western Province XI. Dube and Bayoumy were with South Africa at the Hong Kong Sixes. All-rounder George Linde returned to the XI, too. Linde was with the Proteas in India.
Western Province are without wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne, batsman Tony de Zorzi, who are with the Proteas in India. WP also don’t have seamer Tshepo Moreki, who is in India with South Africa A.
Western Province batsman David Bedingham and all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana are sidelined by injury.
WP currently occupy fourth position on the T20 Challenge points table after wins over the Titans and North West – and defeats to the Warriors and Boland.
“The win against the Titans was massive for us – it really gave the whole team a lift,” said WP all-rounder Oliver Whitehead.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and to see that effort translate into such a strong performance was rewarding. It reminded everyone what we’re capable of when we stick to our plans and play as a unit. There’s a lot of belief in the changeroom right now – that win has built confidence and momentum going into the next game.
“We know the Tuskers are a tough side, especially at home, but the boys are up for it. The goal now is to keep building on that performance and carry the same energy and focus into Pietermaritzburg.”
Western Province’s leading run-scorer in this season’s T20 Challenge is opener Eddie Moore, who hit a century against the Titans at Newlands in Cape Town last week.
Seamer Mthiwekhaya Nabe and leg-spinner Josh Breed are Western Province’s leading wicket-takers in this season’s T20 Challenge with six each.
Latest WP T20 Challenge XI
- Daniel Smith (captain)
- Joshua van Heerden
- Abdallah Bayoumy
- Raeeq Daniels
- Liyema Waqu
- Mbulelo Dube
- Mthiwekhaya Nabe
- Edward Moore
- George Linde
- Josh Breed
- Valentine Kitime