WP T20 Challenge Won By 41 Runs Match Highlights Against NW. On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Western Province secured a commanding 41-run victory over North West Dragons in the Eliminator match of the CSA T20 Challenge 2024/25, played at the iconic DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. This win allowed Western Province to advance in the tournament while ending the Dragons’ campaign in the competition.
The match, filled with explosive performances, tight bowling, and some brilliant fielding efforts, saw Western Province assert their dominance with both bat and ball. In this article, we provide a detailed breakdown of the match’s key moments, individual performances, and tactical decisions that shaped the outcome.
Toss and Match Setup
Winning the toss, North West Dragons captain Wihan Lubbe opted to bowl first, hoping to capitalize on the early movement in the pitch under the night sky in Johannesburg. The decision initially seemed to favor the Dragons as they restricted Western Province to a moderate score of 166/5 in their allotted 20 overs. However, the Dragons’ batting lineup faltered under pressure, and they were bundled out for just 125 runs in 15.3 overs.
Western Province Innings
Western Province had a steady start to their innings, with Jonathan Bird and Daniel Smith opening the batting. Both openers attempted to build a solid foundation but were dismissed early, leaving Western Province at a slightly precarious 46/2 in 5.6 overs. However, the middle order quickly took control of the game.
The standout performer for Western Province was all-rounder George Linde, whose explosive 49* from just 23 balls, including five towering sixes, provided the necessary impetus during the middle and death overs. Linde was well-supported by Mihlali Mpongwana (24 off 19) and Abdullah Bayoumy (14* off 12), both of whom played vital roles in stabilizing the innings and rotating the strike efficiently.
The fall of wickets in the middle overs—Daniel Smith (18 off 19) and Edward Moore (15 off 23)—was balanced by the composed efforts from the middle and lower order. Thanks to Linde’s fireworks and Bayoumy’s smart hitting at the end, Western Province posted a competitive 166/5 on a pitch that offered some assistance to both pacers and spinners.
Western Province Batting Scorecard
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Bird | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Daniel Smith | 18 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 94.74 |
| Valentine Kitime | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Edward Moore | 15 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 65.22 |
| Mihlali Mpongwana | 24 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 126.32 |
| George Linde (Not Out) | 49* | 23 | 1 | 5 | 213.04 |
| Abdullah Bayoumy (Not Out) | 14* | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.67 |
| Extras | 18 | ||||
| Total | 166/5 (20 overs) |
North West Dragons Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migael Pretorius | 3 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8.67 |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Kerwin Mungroo | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 11.33 |
| Gideon Peters | 4 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Wihan Lubbe (c) | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 |
| Bamanye Xenxe | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Caleb Seleka | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
North West Dragons Innings
Chasing 167 for victory, North West Dragons faced immediate setbacks as they lost early wickets. Janneman Malan and Tahir Isaacs both fell to the pace of Beuran Hendricks within the first three overs, putting the Dragons in deep trouble at 7/2. The Dragons needed a heroic effort from their middle order, but despite a valiant 46 off 20 balls from captain Wihan Lubbe, they never recovered from the early collapse.
Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, with Kyle Simmonds and George Linde leading the charge for Western Province. Linde’s left-arm spin was particularly effective, claiming 3 wickets for just 15 runs in his 3.3 overs. Simmonds, too, wreaked havoc with figures of 4-0-14-3, including the key wickets of Lesiba Ngoepe and Marco Jansen.
Apart from Lubbe’s effort and a quickfire 25 off 11 balls from Meeka-eel Prince, no other batter crossed 20 runs, and the Dragons were all out for 125 in 15.3 overs, falling 41 runs short of their target.
North West Dragons Batting Scorecard
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janneman Malan | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 22.22 |
| Tahir Isaacs | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| Meeka-eel Prince | 25 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 227.27 |
| Wihan Lubbe (c) | 46 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 230.00 |
| Lesiba Ngoepe | 17 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 154.55 |
| Marco Jansen | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Migael Pretorius | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Bamanye Xenxe | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Caleb Seleka | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Kerwin Mungroo | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Gideon Peters (Not Out) | 0* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 5 | ||||
| Total | 125 (15.3 overs) |
Western Province Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beuran Hendricks | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Kyle Simmonds | 4 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3.50 |
| Wesley Bedja | 3 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 14.33 |
| Mihlali Mpongwana | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Mthiwekhaya Nabe | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22.00 |
| George Linde | 3.3 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 4.29 |
| Jonathan Bird | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 |
Key Moments and Tactical Mastery
- George Linde’s All-Round Brilliance: Linde’s performance was the decisive factor in this match. Not only did he play a crucial knock with the bat, but his accurate and economical bowling dismantled the Dragons’ batting order.
- Lubbe’s Lone Fight: Captain Wihan Lubbe gave it his all with a blistering 46 off 20 balls, but the lack of support from the other top-order batters left the Dragons in a precarious position.
- Western Province’s Bowling Attack: Kyle Simmonds and Beuran Hendricks were instrumental in building early pressure on the Dragons, leading to a quick collapse that they never recovered from.
- Dragons’ Missteps in the Field: Several run-out opportunities were missed by the Dragons, particularly in the death overs, which allowed Linde and Bayoumy to finish Western Province’s innings on a high note.
- Spin to Win: Western Province’s spinners, Linde and Simmonds, exploited the Wanderers’ pitch, which offered grip and turn, leaving the Dragons’ middle order in tatters.
Conclusion
The 41-run victory for Western Province in this critical CSA T20 Challenge 2024/25 Eliminator match showcased their depth and balance as a team. George Linde emerged as the star of the match, contributing with both bat and ball to seal a well-deserved win. On the other hand, North West Dragons, despite a fighting effort from their captain Wihan Lubbe, couldn’t handle the pressure in the chase, eventually collapsing for just 125.
