Daniel Smith is hoping Western Province can go back-to-back in the CSA T20 Challenge clash against Boland at Newlands on Wednesday after his swashbuckling 80 off just 26 balls led them to a four-wicket victory over North West Dragons at the same venue on Sunday.
“Very satisfied with our performance. We ended up just getting across the line. I think the pitch was really good – the win was set up by the bowlers. I thought Valentine Kitime was amazing, so hopefully we can build from this and go back-to-back,” the top-order batter said in a post-match interview.
Opening batter Kitime struck 50 off 29 balls before Juan James added an unbeaten 25 off 16 balls as Province chased down their 187-run target with 19 balls to spare in their opener.
Momentum rolling💥 .
The Boys In Blue are locked in and ready for another big one as we head down the road to face Goldrush Boland 💙. #WesternProvince #T20Challenge #WPCricket #BoysInBlue💙 #WSBWP🧡 #WSBNewlands pic.twitter.com/E5xhK38AHq
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 3, 2025
The Dragons had reached a respectable 186/5 after losing the toss and being put in to bat.
Smith and Kitime took the home team to 64/2 at the end of the six-over PowerPlay after Eddie Moore and Kyle Verynne fell cheaply. They then pushed on, with Kitime hitting two sixes en route to his highest T20 score.
Smith was also dealing in boundaries, clearing the ropes nine times in his third T20 half-century.
“Luckily it went my way, but I think the positive attitude the coaches have installed in us has given us so much confidence,” he said of his match-winning innings.
Boland will also be riding high after they edged the Lions by eight runs at the Wanderers to top the log. The visitors did well to defend a modest 138-run total, thanks to Lehan Botha’s gritty 42 off 36 balls and Ferisco Adams’ 35-run blitz.
Defending a small total, Boland’s bowlers held their nerve under pressure. Akhona Mnyaka was exceptional up front, removing the Lions’ top three – Wandile Makwetu, Rassie van der Dussen and captain Mitch van Buuren – in the PowerPlay.
The duel between Mnyaka and Smith could be one of the interesting subplots when the sides meet at Newlands on Wednesday.
