Western Province, defending Supersport Series Champions,will complete their pre-season preparations with a tour to the North where they will play North West and Northerns.

Joint coaches Eric Simons and Vinnie Barnes have been battling inclement weather in Cape Town as they prepare their charges for the new season. Heavy rain has confined pre-season activities to the Sports Science Institute gymnasium and the indoor nets at UCT. Hopes of outdoor fielding at the Vineyard have proved fruitless as record rainfalls have been recorded at Newlands. Both coaches report a fully fit squad with the exception of Ashwell Prince who underwent shoulder surgery in the winter. Prince will be fit for the pre-season tour which starts on 18 September in Potchestroom with net practices.

Province will however be minus Claude Henderson who gains his first well-deserved national call-up when he tours Zimbabwe with the National team at the same time. The rain is also affecting the preparations at the waterlogged Newlands Cricket Ground. Western Province start their defence of the Supersport Series title with an unaccustomed early home match against Easterns at Newlands from 4-7 October. Newlands also hosts an early ODI match featuring South Africa and Kenya on 22 October.

The full WP pre-season itinerary is:

18 September - depart for Johannesburg

19 September - nets and middle practice

20-22 September - 3 day match against North West at Benoni

24 September - nets at Supersport Park

25-27 September - 3 day match against Northerns at Supersport Park

Meanwhile WP club cricket double-winners Victoria are preparing to participate in the annual club championships taking place in Pretoria from 18-24 September. Victoria have acquired the services of new WP recruit JP Duminy. They too have had their preparations curtailed by the heavy rains in Cape Town and have been confined to the indoor nets at Paarl and Pinelands High School. Club chairman Patrick Wyngaard is hopeful for some outdoor action before their departure for Pretoria.

On the local club scene Techs have amalgamated with WPCC. This has resulted in Cape Town CC retaining its 1A status after a vote at last Wednesday's WPCA General Council meeting. Club cricket commences on 6 October.

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