Roodepoort Cricket Club and Western Warriors on course for big day out at DP World Wanderers

The Diadora Jozi Cup has reached the business end with Roodepoort teams well represented.

Roodepoort Cricket Club’s U18 and senior men’s teams are both in contention while Western Warriors’ U11s are primed for glory after going unbeaten so far in this competition. One last round of group fixtures remains on Youth Day before the semi-finals and finals to be played at DP World Wanderers on June 17 and 18.

Western Warriors U11s demolished Old Vaal by over 200 runs in their opening fixture and followed that up with an ever-bigger win when they beat Jeppe by 267 runs. Batting second in their next two fixtures, they would pick off UJ Rivonia’s 88-run target in just 8.4 overs and Khoza’s 152 total in 10.2 overs, respectively. They would then go on to score 240 against Wanderers, 195 against Randburg, and a massive 300 against Delfos in games they would win by over 100 runs.

Keagan Keulder has been the Warriors’ standout destroyer from the crease, scoring 375 runs from 167 balls. In just six innings, Keagan has scored 200, hitting 22 sixes and 30 fours with a strike rate of 224. Impressive if not overshadowed by Keagan, Jeorge Pretorius and Aaron Anderson have notched up 184 off 127 and 121 off 104 with the bat, respectively. Ewan Oosthuizen tops the bowling charts with 11 wickets for 53 runs in 17 overs but is backed up by six other bowlers who have all taken three or more wickets.

Roodepoort’s U18s are the darlings of the club and are a few steps away from defending their 2022 title. Despite having their first two games rained out, the U18s sit on top of their group undefeated. Measured wins against Old Edwardians, Wits, Delfos and Big Bom Lenasia preceded their first big blowout against Harrow Kamoso. Tiaan Goosen and Divan de Villiers put on a 145-run opening partnership as they posted 231/2 with Tiaan finishing on 91 not out in a 97-run win.

Roodepoort’s senior men faced a similar situation from the outset when their first two games were rained out. They would get the points tally going with wins over Sandton Tigers, Old Edwardians, and Western Warriors. In the June 4 derby against Yunus Keiler’s men, big hitting from Roodepoort at the end of their innings gave them the cushion needed to securely defend their 204/5 total. There would be one blip for Roodepoort as they slumped to a seven-wicket defeat to Ratels on June 11 when victory would have booked a semi-final ticket.

Speaking after their win against Western Warriors, the man of the match Werner Botha said, “They are all going be tough fixtures but I think we can just get over the line.”

Motivation could not be higher as for some it presents what could be the last chance to walk out at one of the great arenas of world cricket.

Citing the team’s shared ambitions, Werner added, “It is a big carrot for us, it is everyone’s dream to play at Wanderers.”