Johannesburg – 6 October 2025:
The DP World Lions, who have won and shared the last two editions of the 4-Day Domestic Series, made a triumphant entry into this season’s competition as they schooled Western Province, winning by an innings on their famous Newlands home ground.
A fabulous partnership of 175 between Mitchell van Buuren (126) and Connor Esterhuizen (175) on the second day was the foundation of the DP World Lions’ victory by an innings and 134 runs, their second-biggest ever over their old rivals.
The Lions read the conditions perfectly on the opening day when they won the toss and sent Western Province in to bat in partly cloudy weather.
And it was more bounce than movement that undid the Western Province top-order as they crashed to 38 for five inside the first eight overs.
New signing Beyers Swanepoel made an almost immediate impact as he claimed a wicket with his second delivery for #ThePrideOfJozi, Jiveshan Pillay caught at gully for a duck.
Swanepoel was bang on target with his lines and lengths and also had Valentine Kitime (2) caught in the slips, while the pace and fire of Kwena Maphaka accounted for Juan James (4) and Eddie Moore, bowled by a snorter for 19.
Evan Jones also hit the deck hard and picked up four wickets, and Western Province made it to 193 thanks to a partnership of 88 for the eighth wicket between Daniel Smith (102 off 91 balls) and Tshepo Moreki (46), whose batting improved greatly when he was with the DP World Lions up until last season.
Captain Dominic Hendricks led from the front in the reply, his 53 at the top of the order being a watchful innings of studied defence and good judgement, but also clever manipulations and firm drives and pull shots as he collected eight fours.
His dismissal five overs into the second day, and that of nightwatchman Lutho Sipamla, who had occupied the crease well for more than an hour-and-a-half, left our DP World Lions on 110 for four.
Richard Seletswane (30) then helped add 68 for the fifth wicket before a naughty charge down the pitch and swing at left-arm spinner George Linde saw him stumped.
But that’s when the Van Buuren and Esterhuizen masterclass began.
Van Buuren’s five-and-a-half hour innings was one of great discipline, and he was generally a good leaver of the ball and he patiently found his timing on a slowish pitch. But his quick feet allowed him to pull and cut well, and he drove crisply through the off-side and down the ground, collecting 16 fours and a six in his 253 balls at the crease.
Esterhuizen batted positively to reach his maiden first-class century off 164 deliveries, producing handsome drives, some of them lofted, on both sides of the wicket and being quick to pounce on anything short.
The 24-year-old marched on to a wonderful score of 175, showing both determination and the ability to score freely when the chance arose.
Jones struck a powerful 76 off 86 balls, with three sixes, to take #ThePrideOfJozi past 500 and they eventually declared on 552 for nine, their third highest total ever against Western Province.
With a commanding first-innings lead of 359, our DP World Lions bowlers once again successfully diagnosed the weaknesses of the home batsmen as they were bowled out in just 51 overs for 225.
The Lions were able to complete the win on the third afternoon with Maphaka wrapping things up with three for 26 in 10 overs, while Swanepoel, Sipamla and Jones all took a brace of wickets.
Our DP World Lions now travel to Durban where they take on the Dolphins at Kingsmead from Wednesday.