JOHANNESBURG: The DP World Lions will go head-to-head with Six Gun Grill Western Province in the 2022/23 Cricket South Africa (CSA) One Day Cup final on Thursday.
Lions, who qualified to host the final with two games in hand will look to defend their title at the bullring against a Western Province side that is hungry for silverware.
Western Province qualified in their last round-robin encounter when they claimed a convincing victory against neighbours, Gbets Rocks.
Western Province captain, Wayne Parnell, shared how the side has been coming together for the past few seasons and what success will mean for the team in the final.
“It is important for us to get silverware as we have been playing good cricket over the last two seasons, especially in white ball cricket. Our challenge was making it to the play-off positions and playing the final.
“We now have the opportunity to go all the way, and that will provide good opportunities for the young players to build something special.
“We know it will not be easy to come against log leaders and we are expecting a tough match against a quality side. Our messaging throughout the season has been to keep things basic and play good cricket, and that’s what we will continue to do,” said Parnell.
Lions captain, Dominic Hendricks, shared how fortunate the team is to be hosting the final and hoping for a good turn out and support.
DP World Wanderers has encouraged fans to turn up in numbers and bring vibrant colours to join the festive fun.
“We are truly happy to be in the final, and to bring it in front of our Johannesburg crowd. It has been an incredible campaign,” said Hendricks.
“On many occasions, we have seen different members of the team put their hands up and delivering man-of-the match performances.
“I believe the key to our success was dominating those opening games at home and we were able to take that on our away matches. I am confident we will continue with the good work on Thursday.
“Retaining this trophy will show us how good the group has been in the past few years, especially in this format,” Hendricks concluded.
Tickets are available at Ticketpros and at the stadium.
The Division 1 final match will be broadcast live on SuperSport and ball-by-ball action will be available live on the CSA App.
Cricket came to South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars and with the British forces occupying South Africa. The first match recorded was in 1808 in Cape Town between two service teams, for a prize of one thousand rix-dollars.
The oldest cricket club in South Africa is the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1843. Few clubs in the world can boast such a long existence. The first championship was held in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1876 for the “champion bat.” Competing teams were Cape Town, Grahamstown, King Williams Town, and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). It was won by King Williams Town and the year after that too.
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