Tuesday gave the touring party the opportunity to play at the iconic Western Province Cricket Club with the Under 18’s on the main Wally Wilson Oval.

The games were delayed for two hours because of overnight rain, but eventually got underway with reduced overs contests for both.

The Western Province Under 18’s contained five senior players and were a side that would have comfortably competed in the Ireland Provincial Super Three’s.

Western  Province's innings showed just how far the NCU girls have come in the last two years, as they threw themselves about in the field to an extent that had not been seen before making a series of outstanding saves, holding eight catches and backed up by excellent wicket keeping by Anna Monaghan and Georgia Wilson.

There were four wickets for Vanessa Minford, and two each for Penny Speer and Emily Carville.

Unfortunately, the WP bowling attack was high class with each bowler consistently putting six balls in the right area, and despite a valiant 17 from Rebecca Webster the NCU were dismissed for just 60. 

While disappointing, it should not take away from their efforts earlier in the day

The Under 16’s got off to a good start with contributions from Eva Cupitt (23) Lucie Harper  and Matilda McCartney 24 each, but a middle-order collapse resulted in a final total of 145.

Against three particularly strong batters, the NCU were always up against it, but the side managed  to take five wickets before the total was passed, with Laura Suffern, Hannah Gordon, Emma Kennedy and Ellie Bullick each taking a wicket

While two defeats, loads of lessons learnt and a fielding performance which reflected a load of hard work over the last eighteen months.

The sides are back in action on Wednesday afternoon with two matches down for decision.

UNDER 16 SCORECARD

Western Province beat NCU U16's by 5 wickets

NCU UNDER 16
E Cupitt lbw b Miche 23
L Harper caught b Avene 24
M McCartney caught b Nateeta 24
A Willmott caught b Tanya 4
L Humphreys bowled Tanya 3
K West caught b Tanya 0
T Cunningham bowled Tanya 0
L Suffern lbw b Jessica 0
E Kennedy run out 6
H Faulkner not out 0
E Bullick caught b Miche 5
Extras 42
Total (all out, 30 overs) 145

Bowling: A Sophia 5-0-14-0; W Asekhona 3-0-26-0; F Miche 5-0-10-2; Z Avene 3-0-32-1; D Jessica 6-0-29-1; H Nateeta 5-0-16-1; G Tanya 3-0-9-4.

WESTERN PROVINCE
H Morgan caught b Kennedy 31
A Liyaeona bowled Gordon 1
A Hannah run out 0
W Zaro caught b Suffern 44
D Jessica caught b Bullick 24
H Nateeta not out 20
G Tanya not out 15
Extras 42
Total (5 wkts, 19 overs) 146

Bowling: H Gordon 3-0-12-1; E Bullick 4-0-20-1; E Kennedy 3-0-30-1; H Faulkner 3-0-35-0; L Suffern 3-0-28-1; K West 2-0-9-0; M McCartney 1-0-6-0.

UNDER 18 SCORECARD

Western Province beat NCU U18's by 105 runs

WESTERN PROVINCE
I Van Schalwyk ct Speer b Andrews 26
G Botha ct Speer b Minford 9
C Baster ct Bond b Minford 0
M Lawlor st Monaghan b Speer 27
O Roubaix not out 35
I Filander ct Monaghan b Bond 10
A Titus bowled Speer 0
R Bomvana ct Wilson b Carville 12
K Erasmus ct Carville b Minford 12
S Yasco ct Wilson b Carville 1
Z Dzidzi ct Bond b Minford 1
Extras 32
Total (all out, 35 overs) 165

Bowling: V Minford 7-0-31-4; L Andrews 8-0-48-1; P Speer 8-0-34-2; E Bond 4-0-15-1; E Carville 5-0-17-2; R Lowe 3-0-18-0.

NCU U18
R Lowe caught b Erasmus 4
R Webster caught b Botha 17
A Hughes bowled Tirus 7
L Andrews bowled Yaso 0
Grace Wilson lbw b Tirus 5
E Carville lbw b Yaso 2
E Bond caught b Bomvana 1
E Wilson bowled Bomvana 9
J Wright not out 3
Georgia Wilson caught b Botha 0
V Minford caught b Botha 1
Extras 11
Total (all out, 21 overs) 60

Bowling: M Lawlor 5-1-10-0; K Erasmus 3-0-4-1; A Titus 4-0-11-2; S Yasco 3-0-6-2; R Bomvana 3-0-12-2; G Botha 3-0-12-3.