Dragons shift focus to Boland after rain-affected T20 Challenge opener

The Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons will shift their focus to Friday’s clash against Goldrush Boland after their opening T20 Challenge fixture against the Dafabet Warriors was abandoned without a ball bowled due to persistent rain on Wednesday.

Dragons captain, Wihan Lubbe, says while the team would have liked to start their campaign at home on Wednesday, preparations remain on track and spirits are high ahead of their next encounter.

“We would have liked to get going on Wednesday as we were well-prepared going into the game. It definitely helps that we were mentally ready.

“Game-wise, nothing really changes for us. We move on to the Boland game now. The conditions will be a bit different but with the balance in the squad we have, we feel confident and well-prepared to face them in Paarl.”

Reflecting on last season’s efforts, Lubbe noted that the Dragons are determined to build on their early-season momentum and go one step further this time around.

“Last season, we started really well but fell short in the play-off game. We’re taking that momentum with us and want to get the ball rolling properly in the T20s. Boland have a strong squad with a lot of domestic experience and exciting young players, so we’ll be preparing for a full-strength side and backing ourselves to perform,” he added.

Meanwhile, Boland captain Clyde Reeves-Fortuin says his side is eager to take the field for their first outing of the season and capitalise on home conditions.

“The players are really excited. It should be a good tournament, we’ve got a great mix of youth and experience and a lot of depth in our side.

“Boland Park has always been good to us, and with four home games in this competition, we’re looking to make the most of that advantage. If we can play well at home, that could put us in a strong position for the play-offs.”

Reeves-Fortuin also acknowledged the quality of the Dragons’ side but believes a confident start will be key to Boland’s campaign.

“The Dragons have started the season well in the 4-Day Series, so they’ll have confidence. But we need to back ourselves. If we can start strong and play bold, smart cricket, we can build early momentum and put ourselves in a good position for the knockout stages.”

The match between Goldrush Boland and the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons gets underway on Friday at 6pm in Boland Park, as both teams look to open their 2025/26 CSA T20 Challenge campaigns with a winning start.