Western Province will open the new domestic cricket season tomorrow when they face the Lions in Cricket South Africa’s T20 Knock Out competition at Kimberley’s Diamond Oval at 10am.
With the Northern Cape and SWD also in Pool A, Province will be looking to book their place in the tournament’s quarterfinals this weekend when they also cross swords with SWD on Saturday (10am) and the Northern Cape on Sunday (2.30pm).
WP captain Wayne Parnell has warned the teams in their pool and the rest of the competition that they are not in Kimberley to make up the numbers.
Instead, having lost the Cape Cobras name and playing under Western Province again, Parnell says: “It goes without saying that we want to win the competition. It’s also nice because it’s the first competition for the Western Province union again – it’s very exciting.
“We can put down a proper marker now and take that forward.”
He adds: “I was 11 when I watched WP play for the first time against North West. It’s very special, something I wanted to do in years to come.
“To be able to represent WP – it’s such a powerful brand. “That’s something that really got me back here [from playing in the UK] – it’s something really special. Most of the guys probably feel the same way.”
dudley.carstens@inl.co.za