Western Province Over-40 and East Rand Over-40 will contest the 2023 inter-provincial tournament final at the Wanderers Cricket Club on Friday, 12 May.
Western Province Over-40 are undefeated at the tournament. They beat Dolphins Over-40, Titans Over-40 and Eastern Province Over-40 to top group two.
East Rand Over-40 were beaten once during the group stage. They lost to Lions Over-40 and beat Border Over-40 and Boland Over-40.
Top performers
Friday’s inter-provincial tournament will showcase some of the best talent among active over-40 cricketers in South Africa.
Batsmen
Kyle Smit is currently the leading run-scorer at the tournament and will likely open the batting for East Rand Over-40 again.
The former Dolphins batsman has hit 72, 72 and 70 this week. His strike-rate has been 169-plus. Johann Nel and Craig Turton have been East Rand Over-40’s other top run-scorers this week.
Werner Moolman is currently Western Province Over-40’s top run-scorer. Moolman’s 51 against Titans Over-40 and 90 against Dolphins Over-40 has yielded a tournament average of 70-plus.
Former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince hit 46 not out against Eastern Province Over-40 and 49 not out against Dolphins Over-40.
Bowlers
Mohammed Teladia has taken six wickets for East Rand Over-40 this week. He is one of only five players to take four or more wickets in a match this week.
East Rand Over-40 also have Johan van Rooyen, whose economy rate of 2.21 is the best among the top 50 bowlers at the tournament in Johannesburg.
Wayne Hendricks is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. He took two wickets against Titans Over-40 and completed the only five-for of the tournament against Eastern Province Over-40.
Western Province Over-40 have three bowlers among the top six wicket-takers this week. The others are Jaco Castle and Ridiwaan Williams.
Conditions
The 2023 inter-provincial final will be played at the Wanderers Cricket Club’s A field. The pitch is evidently truer but the outfield slightly slower than the club’s B field. Western Province Over-40 beat Titans Over-40 here.
This will be East Rand Over-40’s first match on this field. The pitch might be a bit sticky for the early start, but there has plenty of sun in Johannesburg this week. The captain to win the toss will possibly choose to bowl first.
Squads
Western Province Over-40 and East Rand Over-40’s final playing XIs will be named shortly before the start.
Western Province Over-40 squad
- Ashwell Prince
- Werner Moolman
- Duane Viljoen
- Mark Ritchie
- Ashley Fernandez
- Jaco Castle
- Wayne Hendricks
- Sadiek Davids
- Robin van Harte
- Ridiwaan Williams
- Luke Knipe
- Derrin Bassage
- Adie Jackson
- Daniel Styer
- Ryan Milne
East Rand Over-40 squad
- Andre Steyn
- Shane Savage
- Pieter Booysen
- Roland Braun
- Jan Grobbelaar
- Andre Jordaan
- Alwyn Labuschagne
- Nico Minnaar
- Johann Nel
- Ephraim Nwayo
- Kyle Smit
- Ashton Swartbooi
- Mohammad Teladia
- Craig Turton
- Johan van Rooyen
- Marinus Vollenbroek
Other closing fixtures
Six teams failed to reach the final.
- Third-place play-off: Eastern Province Over-40 v Lions Over-40
- Fifth-place play-off: Titans Over-40 v Border Over-40
- Seventh-place play-off: Dolphins Over-40 v Boland Over-40
Summary
The South Africa Over-40 squad will be announced after the final – and will likely feature several Western Province Over-40 and East Rand Over-40 players.
That squad will compete in the Africa Cup later this year. The inaugural Over-40 World Cup will follow next year.