Jean captains SWD to quarters

PLETTENBERG BAY CRICKET NEWS - Plett cricketer Jean du Plessis has captained his South Western Districts (SWD) side to the quarter-finals of the CSA Provincial T20 Cup, topping Group A in the process.

SWD, that have been placed in Division 2 by Cricket South Africa's (CSA) newest franchise system, were drawn in Group A alongside fellow Division 2 union Northern Cape and Division 1 unions Western Province and the Lions.

Going into the start of the tournament, the two Division 1 sides were favourites to advance from the group, but SWD certainly had other plans.

With all Group A matches being played at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley in order to facilitate a bio-secure environment for players and officials, SWD sprang into action against Northern Cape in the first game on Friday 24 September. Northern Cape received the advantage of winning the toss and elected to put SWD in to bat first.

Du Plessis and his troops put up a very competitive total, scoring at a good rate to attain 192-4 in their 20 overs. Du Plessis led by example and top-scored for his side with 69 off 39 balls at a healthy strike rate of 176,92.

While Northern Cape batted well, they could only reach 168-9 in their 20 overs and handed SWD a 24-run win. Du Plessis also contributed behind the stumps as wicketkeeper with a catch.

Western Province were SWD's next opponents on Saturday 25 September, and the latter would have been frothing at the mouth for an upset. Du Plessis lost the toss once again and WP captain Wayne Parnell chose to bat first. The decision didn't work out particularly well though, as SWD restricted them to 130-7 in their 20 overs.

Du Plessis assisted his side yet again with a catch for Parnell's wicket off Herschell America's bowling.

Unfortunately Du Plessis was unable to shine with the bat as Parnell exacted his revenge by dismissing his counterpart for a four-ball duck. Nonetheless, SWD fought hard and earned a stunning three-wicket victory with only two balls remaining in the innings.

The Lions lay in wait in SWD's final group game on Sunday 26 September. With a spot in the quarters on the line, SWD needed to either win or very narrowly lose to the Lions to make it through. Du Plessis lost out at the toss once more, and SWD were sent in to bat first. A measly batting effort followed, but a much-needed 41 off 38 balls for Du Plessis saw his side reach 129-6 in their 20 overs.

Yet another determined bowling effort came from SWD, but some poor fielding in the dying stages of the game ultimately cost them victory. The Lions crawled over the line with one ball remaining for a four-wicket victory. Du Plessis bagged another dismissal in the form of a stumping, and despite the loss, his side had done enough to make it through to the quarter-finals.

Du Plessis holds the most dismissals for a wicketkeeper in Group A, courtesy of his two catches and one stumping. He is also the only wicketkeeper in the group to have at least one dismissal in each of their three group games.

The South Western Districts squad that competed in the CSA Provincial T20 Cup.