Hollywoodbets Pro Series: The standout stars and numbers so far

Cricket SA

6 hours ago

3 min read

YesPlay Cobras' Faye Tunnicliffe is ahead of the pack with the bat in the Hollywoodbets Pro50 Series. CSA

The first month of the Hollywoodbets Pro Series has produced a number of standout performances, with some of South Africa’s leading international and domestic cricketers making their mark in both the Hollywoodbets Pro50 and Pro20 Series.

From three centuries on the opening day to match-winning five-wicket hauls, the country’s premier women’s domestic competition has delivered plenty of highlights ahead of the ongoing break, with action set to resume over the weekend of 7-8 November.

The Fidelity Titans have set the early pace and sit top of the standings in both formats, with two wins from three matches in the Pro50 and three wins from three in the Pro20.

Anneke Bosch, Fidelity Titans captain, has the most runs in the Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series. CSA

Last season’s double winners, the YesPlay Cobras, sit second in the Pro50 standings, while the Garden Route Badgers occupy second place in the Pro20 competition with two wins. The Hollywoodbets Dolphins, DP World Lions and Warriors make up the rest of the chasing pack, with the Warriors currently at the foot of both standings.

The opening rounds of the Pro Series have also produced notable batting displays, with Faye Tunnicliffe (202 runs) leading the Pro50 run-scoring charts. Anneke Bosch has enjoyed an impressive start to the shortest format, scoring 183 runs in three innings for the unbeaten Titans.

Tunnicliffe’s record-breaking 171 off 131 balls for the Cobras in their opening match of the season against the Badgers, the highest individual score in Pro50 history, remains one of the standout batting performances of the campaign so far.

Paulinah Mashishi of the Fidelity Titans has a leading seven wickets in the Hollywoodbets Pro50 Series. CSA

Special mention also goes to Titans opening batter Laura Wolvaardt. Despite only featuring in two rounds of the Pro Series before departing for the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia, the Proteas Women captain notched up 180 runs in the Pro50 with a high score of 123 not out, as well as 160 at an average of 160 in the Pro20.

With the ball, Titans spinner Paulinah Mashishi leads the way with seven wickets in the 50-over format, including best figures of four for 34 at home to the Dolphins in the opening round of the season. Annerie Dercksen’s four wickets in two matches in the Pro20 leave her joint-top alongside Kayla Reyneke (three matches), with both all-rounders recording noteworthy three-wicket hauls in Weeks 4 and 1, respectively.

Annerie Dercksen from the Garden Route Badgers currently sits joint-top with Kayla Reyneke for the most wickets in the Hollywoodbets Pro20. CSA

The standout bowling performance so far has been seamer Caitlin Wyngaard’s five-wicket haul for just 19 runs in the Titans’ convincing win over the Lions at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The new Titans signing and recently capped Proteas Women right-arm seamer has also had the opportunity to bat higher up the order, scoring a season-best 40 in her team’s loss against the Cobras last weekend.

After a two-week break, the Hollywoodbets Pro Series returns with an intriguing battle between the Warriors and Titans at Dafabet St George’s Park in Gqeberha, while the Dolphins host the Lions at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.

Week 5 will also introduce the Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series ‘Excellence in Performance’ caps, with leading Pro20 run-scorer Anneke Bosch wearing the green cap this weekend, while the yellow cap currently belongs to leading wicket-taker Annerie Dercksen, whose Garden Route Badgers have a bye this weekend.

Fans can attend the matches free of charge, with all games also streamed live on Cricket South Africa’s YouTube channel.