Johannesburg – 5 December 2025:
The weather may have denied our DP World Lions Ladies the win their inspired display in the HollywoodBets Pro50 Series match against Western Province deserved, but for coach Sandile Masengemi it was their best performance of the season. It’s something he wants them to build on when they travel to Potchefstroom this weekend to take on the North-West Dragons.
A fiery start by the top-order and then a marvellous finish by Sinalo Jafta and Sunette Viljoen-Louw saw #ThePrideOfJozi post 270 for eight at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, and then a very tidy bowling performance had reduced Western Province to 68 for four after 16.5 overs when lightning stopped play. The visitors still needed 203 runs in less than 34 overs, at 6.13 runs-per-over, and were 65 runs behind already on the DLS calculation. But the Lions needed to bowl 20 overs for there to be an outright result.
“It was disappointing because we played very good cricket. We batted so well and then we had Western Province under pressure thanks to our consistently good bowling, so it was unfortunate that lightning stopped play. It’s the best we’ve played this season, which was good to see,” Masengemi said.
“It’s the best we’ve batted for a long time and it meant we were ahead of our KPIs, which allowed the middle-order to play their brand of cricket. Laying that sort of good foundation is so important, but we lost wickets in clusters after that, which meant we didn’t reach 300, which we could have.
“With the ball, Ayabonga Khaka and Tumi Sekhukhune set the tone and were very disciplined. Fay Cowling and the spinners then came through and were also very tight.”
Although North-West are languishing in last place in the Pro50 and fourth in the Pro20 compared to the Pride’s second place, Masengemi said the Dragons are still a very good side. Even if former Proteas star Mignon du Preez is not available, they have other useful batters in Verunissa Reddy and all-rounder Alyssa Erxleben , who is also a prolific wicket-taker who has over 100 List A wickets in just 69 matches. SA U19 star Nthabiseng Nini is a threat with the new ball, while Western Cape recruit Tabitha le Grange rounds out the attack.
“North-West are a very dangerous side and we can’t take them for granted. It’s a big weekend for us because we have to make sure we get the points in both formats. We need to treat them similarly to Western Province or the Dolphins in terms of mindset. We need to see these matches as a big thing,” Masengemi said.
Tazmin Brits, Karabo Meso and Jafta are all away with the Proteas this weekend, but Madison Landsman gave the DP World Lions a very good start against Western Province and Razeena Manack and Diara Ramlakan are fine talents coming into the squad.
The great news in terms of the bowling is that the classy Sekhukhune is available before she joins the Proteas ODI squad, although Khaka is away taking on the Irish in the T20 internationals. But fellow seamers Cowling, Relebohile Mkhize and Refilwe Moncho have also all been in fine form.
Squad – Tumi Sekhukhune, Madison Landsman, Razeena Manack, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Jenna Evans, Sunette Viljoen-Louw, Fay Cowling, Kgomotso Rapoo, Sarah Nettleton, Refilwe Moncho, Relebohile Mkhize, Neo Molefe, Lehlohonolo Meso, Diara Ramlakan, Nonkululeko Thabethe.