WP targeting a Women’s double
IT’S all set to be a golden summer for Women's cricket in South Africa with the hosting of both the inaugural ICC Under19 Women's World Cup and ICC T20 Women's World Cup early next year.
Western Province coach Claire Terblanche therefore believes Cricket SA's Provincial competitions that get under way this weekend in Potchefstroom, Tshwane and KwaZulu-Natal are the perfect opportunity for the country's women cricketers to showcase their talents in a bid to force their way into Dinesha Devnarain (U19) and Hilton Moreeng's (Proteas Women) respective squads.
"The girls will focus on what we can do best. We will do what we need to do and the results will take care of themselves. That's when it can't be missed by the selectors. That's how to give yourself the best opportunity," Terblanche said at WP's 2021/22 Awards evening on Wednesday.
Western Province are, of course, a powerhouse in domestic cricket being the defending T20 champions and 50-overs runners-up to North West.
They boast some of the most exciting talent in the county in WP Player of the Year and Proteas new cap Delmi Tucker and, of course, Proteas stars Laura Wolvaardt, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Andri Steyn and Sinalo Jafta.
SA U19 and WP Young Player of the Year Kayla Reyneke is also an emerging prodigy who is turning heads on the Women's circuit.
With such a vast amount of talent at her disposal, Terblanche has therefore firmly set the WP team's sights on completing the double this coming weekend. Province are in Division 1, also known as the Top 6, along with the North West Dragons, Titans, Lions, Dolphins and the newly-promoted Garden Route Badgers.
Division 2, which is divided into Pool A and B, includes Free State, Eastern
Storm, Boland, KZN Inland, Kei Limpopo, Eastern Province, Mpumalanga, Border and Northern Cape.
"A lot of hard work has built up to this weekend. The season is starting about a month ahead of time but we are ready. We face Northerns first up and we are really positive ahead of this weekend," Terblanche said.
"The pressure we feel is to bring home both cups. We would love to bring home the 50-overs and 20-overs titles.
“We have been second to North West for about two years now. I think this season the girls are ready to bring home both trophies."
The first matches begin tomorrow at 10am.