SWD takes honours in warm-up match

GEORGE CRICKET NEWS - The SWD provincial cricket team got their preparation for the 2018/19 season off to a good start when they defeated Eastern Province by six wickets in a friendly warm-up fixture at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn last week. With Namibia withdrawing from the competition, SWD's opening match will be against Boland in Paarl from 25 October.

This match gives coach Baakier Abrahams plenty of time to prepare for a challenging season.

Eastern Province, after struggling on 76/7, posted 152 in their first innings, with Solomzi Nqweni (36) and Keenan Smith (47) the top contributors with the bat. Bradley de Villiers (4/30) and Stefan Tait (3/14) excelled with the ball.

SWD posted 227 (all out) in their first innings thanks to contributions from Letlotle Sesele (53), Kirwin Christoffels (29), Jean du Plessis (31) and Yamkela Oliphant (40), for a lead of 75.

Former SWD bowler Glenton Stuurman bagged 3/50 for the visitors.

In their second innings, EP again managed to recover from a disappointing 109/7. The recovery came from Keenan Viera (81) and Keenan Smith (39) and enabled them to post 212.

Marcello Piedt (4/23) and Tsepo Ndwandwa (2/35) were SWD's best bowlers. With a target of 137, SWD reached the winning score with 6 wickets in hand, but the home team batted until they reached 189/9 when the match was called off. Letlotle Sesele (28), Jean du Plessis (31), Obus Pienaar (27), Brendon Louw (49*) and Yamkela Oliphant (30) all got some much-needed batting practice.

For EP, Luvuyo Adam (3/33) was the pick of the bowlers.

SWD's fixtures for the season are: