Western Province skipper, Kyle Verreynne, ensured his men claimed victory as the Cricket South Africa (CSA) 1-Day Cup commenced on Saturday.

Western Province, who were losing finalists this past season kicked off their campaign on a high note, winning by six wickets via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method in Potchefstroom.

The North West Dragons had won the toss and elected to bat first, as Raynard van Tonder, new to the Dragons set-up,  led with the bat as the sole contributor, unbeaten with 129* runs.

Van Tonder received support from Wihan Lubbe (46), and Senuran Muthusamy (34) before his 65-run seventh wicket partnership with Duan Jansen (33*) to end the Dragons innings on 276/6 at the end of their allotted 50 overs.

Beuran Hendricks returned figures of 3/52 in 10 overs whilst Nandre Burger claimed two scalps and one wicket from Mihlali Mpongwana.

The revised target meant the visitors were chasing 245 in 38 overs, where Verreynne smashed 101 off 65 to ensure his side secured a comfortable lead.

Edward Moore (41*) and Mpongwana (27*) ended the Western Province innings on 248/4 with 3.5 overs to spare.

Kerwin Mungroo claimed the all-important wicket of Verreynne and Migael Pretorius (2/30) saw the dismissals of Tony de Zorzi and Yaseen Vallie.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins and Gbets Rocks encounter was abandoned in Durban after only six overs due to inclement weather.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Eastern Cape Iinyathi secured a five-wicket victory at home against the Eastern Storm, the Northern Cape Heat defeated Limpopo Impalas by 29 runs whilst ITEC Knights were victorious in Oudtshoorn, securing a narrow 12-run win against Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images