Plenty of title-winning aspirations were snubbed when the 2017-18 Western Province Cricket Association club season was brought to a premature end due to the ongoing drought in Cape Town. But these five clubs have every reason to feel particularly aggrieved…
1. United Cricket Club, WPCA first division A
United Cricket Club’s bid to return to the premier league saw them recruit former Cape Cobras fast bowler Francois Plaatjies and they occasionally enjoyed the presence of Proteas seamer Dane Paterson. They suffered a late defeat to Green Point Cricket Club, but topped the first division A standings regardless.
2. Rylands Cricket Club, WPCA first division B
Rylands Cricket Club secured the services of seamer Riaaz Teladia, batsman Rushdi Jappie, wicketkeeper-batsman Zahid Allie and all-rounder Faheem Bedford from Rondebosch Cricket Club, Ottoman Cricket Club, Primrose Cricket Club and Yorkshire Cricket Club, respectively, but none of them could prevent the inevitable – despite topping the first division B log.
3. Cape Town Cricket Club, WPCA third division B
Cape Town Cricket Club’s third XI were unbeaten throughout the 2017-18 season – and won more than half their matches with bonus points. Their unbeaten stretch, in fact, spanned all of 22 matches – including the second half of the 2016-17 season. They would have had to play a semi-final and a final, but were arguable frontrunners for the title.
4. University of Cape Town Cricket Club, WPCA first division A
The University of Cape Town Cricket Club narrowly missed promotion to the premier league at the end of the 2016-17 season – and were certainly in contention for elevation this time. Their disappointing 2018 Varsity Cricket campaign, meanwhile, yielded just one win in eight attempts.
5. Durbanville Cricket Club, WPCA premier league
Durbanville Cricket Club were at thet top of the premier league standings at the time of the cancellation, but won’t be allowed to represent the province at the regional play-off for a berth in the 2018 National Club Championship. They’ll be somewhat consoled by their Multiply T20 Community Cup triumph, though.