PLETTENBERG BAY CRICKET NEWS - Local cricketer Jean du Plessis has been released from the Cape Cobras squad to return to his duties for SWD in a series of one- and three-day matches.
The tournament, which runs from 19 February until 7 March, sees SWD competing against Boland, Border and KwaZulu-Natal in Pool C.
The men from the Southern Cape are playing two three-day matches and three provincial one-day matches during the three weeks in a bio-secure environment in Paarl, with the tournament carrying List A status.
It will play a vital role in preparation for the 2021/22 season, as due to an abnormal 2020/21 season these matches will be SWD's only taste of cricket.
It will also provide valuable insight into players' form and ability for selectors ahead of the 2021/22 year. "The team is going all-out to make use of the opportunity," SWD Cricket CEO Albertus Kennedy said last week.
SWD named its 15-man squad for the tournament last week, with five potential débutants in the squad including newly appointed captain Kelly Smuts. It also sees the return of Jean du Plessis in the blue and green colours of SWD, off the back of two caps for the Cape Cobras in the recently concluded Momentum One-Day Cup (MODC) competition.
Du Plessis turned out as a wicketkeeper-batsman in the Cobras' two opening games, scoring 51 runs in the two games. He had scored an innings-stabilising 34 in the Cobras' opening game before he was given out LBW in a call that could have gone either way.
He didn't secure any dismissals behind the stumps before he was replaced by veteran Cobras wicketkeeper-batsman Pieter Malan in their third game, against the Lions.
He would not turn out for the Cobras again as the Western Cape outfit was knocked out of the MODC at the semifinal stage by the Dolphins. Du Plessis was then released by the Cobras to return to SWD for their five-match series.
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