With less than a month to go in the Cricket South Africa (CSA) First Class Three-Day Competition, it is anybody’s prediction as to who will walk away with Amateur Cricket’s premier title. Eastern Province (EP) lead the pack on 145.02 points, with Gauteng in second on 139.34 points and Northerns in third on 127.62 points, with the next round of matches starting today (Thursday).

 

EP travel to Cape Town to face a strong Western Province team, who are also in with a sniff, lying in sixth place on 115.94 points with three matches to play. EP have won six matches, the most by any team, with four draws, and can further strengthen their grasp on the trophy with a win against Province. Michael Smith has been the form man, with an average of 67.10. Another player who has had a fantastic return to amateur cricket is Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) batsman, Michael Price. Price has tallied up 726 runs this season, and will play a major for EP, according to coach, Piet Botha.

 

“We have played a good brand of cricket this season and one of the strengths of the team has been their ability to play in partnerships. We have our dominant batsmen like Michael Price and Michael Smith, but we also have the guys like Kelly Smuts that chip in with the odd 30’s and 40’s and create big partnerships, ” said Botha.

 

Reece Williams has been the force with the ball for EP, with 44 scalps to his name, including three five-for’s and one 10 wicket haul. The 21 year-old former SA U19 player moved to the Eastern Province for his studies this season, and is second behind Imran Tahir (51) with the most wickets, at an average of 18.88. NMMU’s Simon Harmer’s wicket-taking form has shot up as the season has progressed, only last weekend he grabbed 5/58 against Northerns and is one for the future.

 

“ Reece has been phenomenal this season. He was part of our academy programme over the winter and has been a cog in our bowling attack. The other young bowlers such as left-arm seamer Brandon Viret and spinner Simon Harmer have also been superb for us, and have given the team an exciting balance,” said Botha.

 

Third placed Northerns have a tricky fixture when they travel to face defending champions, Griqualand West. Northerns will have to do without some of their top performers in Christiaan Schoeman and  young leg spinner Shaun Von Berg who are off to India on the Titans’ player exchange programme and Mandla Mashimbyi who is on Titans duty. They will however, have the experience of Sean Nowak and François le Clus, who will lead the young blood coming into the team.

 

“We have obviously been dealt huge blows with the withdrawals of our top players but I am confident that that youngsters that we have can come and play a big role for us this weekend. The experienced players will have a lot more responsibility on their shoulders but it is an exciting time for the debutants,” said Northerns’ coach, Malibongwe Maketa

 

Gauteng have a bye this weekend with Easterns, who are also strong title contenders, at home to Free State, who came away with an excellent victory against South Western Districts last weekend.

Western Province v Eastern Province; Cape Town

Boland v North West; Paarl

Easterns v Free State; Benoni

Griqualand West v Northerns; Kimberly

Namibia v KwaZulu-Natal; Windhoek