SWD, EP need to up the ante in final

07 March 2013

SOUTH Western Districts face arguably their most important cricket match of this season's three-day CSA Provincial Challenge when they clash with log-leaders Free State in Bloemfontein, starting today.

Although the competition remains fiercely contested, the Free Staters are leading the pack with 118 points, 17 ahead of SWD and Eastern Province.

With the leading teams having three matches left, neither SWD nor EP can afford any more poor results if they hope to remain serious contenders for the title.

EP are up against Easterns this weekend, with the three-day game being played at Axxess St George's and the Twenty20 clash at Grey High on Sunday.

Ross McMillan's SWD side escaped with a draw against Northerns last weekend after slumping to 108/8 in the second innings and they will need to show a big improvement to match the log-leaders in Bloemfontein.

Even a draw would be a good result for the Free Staters, so SWD will need to show a positive approach from the outset. Colin Ackermann's EP side will be chasing their fourth victory of the season against Easterns, who have a similar record but have earned 10 less bonus points.

In a recent clashes, Easterns and Free State outplayed SWD and EP respectively. This weekend, the teams from the Warriors franchise will be aiming to reverse those results to keep their title hopes alive.

EP team:

Colin Ackermann (capt), Warren Bell, Eddie Moore, Peter Furstenburg, Brad Dolley, Athenkosi Dyili, Siviwe Gidana, Sisanda Magala, Michael Price, James Price, Lee-Roy Walters, Jon Jon Smuts, Kelly Smuts, Anrich Nortje, Lionel Vaaltyn, Akhona Kula

CSA Provincial Three-Day

	P	W	L	D	Ba	Bo	Pts
Free State	10	5	0	5	30.36	38	118.36
Gauteng	10	4	1	5	37.26	40	117.26
North West	10	4	0	6	37.86	37	114.86
Boland	10	4	2	3	26.60	39	111.60
EP	10	3	4	3	32.64	39	101.64
SWD	10	4	2	4	27.36	34	101.36
Northerns	11	3	2	6	28.04	37	95.04
WP	10	3	4	3	30.84	35	94.84
Border	10	3	4	2	16.74	40	92.74
Easterns	10	3	4	3	24.34	39	91.34
KZN Inland	10	2	4	4	26.66	28	74.66
KZ-Natal	11	2	3	6	22.08	34	74.08
Griquas	10	1	5	4	19.36	37	66.36
Namibia	10	0	6	4	20.42	35	55.42

Boland and Border tied one match

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