The hugely anticipated first season of the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Professional Domestic Women\u2019s League got underway with One-Day Cup action as the DP World Lions sealed a six-wicket victory over newly-promoted Recon Tactical Free State in Johannesburg on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Kirstie Thomson\u2019s three-wicket haul and an unbeaten run-a-ball 89* (16 fours) along with Sunette Viljoen-Louw\u2019s action-packed 73 off 61 deliveries (10 fours, 1 six) helped the home side chase down Free State\u2019s initial score of 247\/6 which was inspired by knocks from Mignon du Preez (79 off 95 balls; 11 fours, 1 six) and rising talent Miane Smit (79 off 91 balls; 13 fours).<\/p>\n
The other day\u2019s match involving the defending 50-over champions Western Province at home against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins was abandoned before a ball was bowled due to wet conditions.<\/p>\n
At the DP World Wanderers Stadium, after winning the toss and electing to field, the Lions made early inroads into the visitors\u2019 batting order as Lehlohonolo Meso (2\/39) picked up two of the first three wickets to fall to leave the visitors reeling on 30\/3.<\/p>\n
The quick loss of wickets led to the middle-order pair of du Preez and Smit entering the fray, with the duo combining for a 169-run stand for the fourth wicket to propel Free State to 199\/3 before Thomson struck three times, including two scalps in two balls, to rock the team from Bloemfontein and leave them 202\/6 after 41 overs.<\/p>\n
Through cameos from Zintle Kula (25*) and Anica Swart (18*), Free State eventually ended on 247\/6 after their allotted overs. Thomson finished as the leading wicket-taker for the Lions with figures of three for 30 in her five overs.<\/p>\n
In their response with the bat, the Lions made a positive start at the crease, notching up an opening 47-run stand between Palesa Mapoo (23) and Nonkululeko Thabethe (18), before the introduction of Viljoen-Louw and Thomson carried the hosts to 198\/3 in the 39th over thanks to a 117-run partnership.<\/p>\n
Despite the Lions losing Viljoen-Louw and youngster Karabo Meso (3), Thomson partnered up with Jenna Evans (22*) to get the home side across the line with 5.1 overs to spare.<\/p>\n
Yolandi Potgieter was Free State\u2019s leading bowler with a return of two for 56 in a valiant effort with the ball as her side fell to a defeat in their first outing since being promoted to the first division.<\/p>\n
The inspired cricket from the CSA Professional Domestic Women\u2019s League resumes on Sunday, 01 October as the T20 Challenge makes its return for the 2023\/24 season, with Western Province taking on the Dolphins meanwhile the Lions seek to defend their T20 title against Free State in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
Fixtures – CSA Professional Domestic Women\u2019s League – T20 Challenge Division One:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"