Limpopo (cricket team)

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Limpopo Cricket Team, also called the Limpopo Impalas[1] are a former first-class cricket team from Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa. They played their home games at Modjadjiskloof Oval, Duiwelskloof.

When Cricket South Africa decided to expand the Provincial Three-Day Challenge in 2006, Limpopo were one of five provincial teams (along with Kei, KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Mpumalanga and South Western Districts) elevated to first-class status.

First-class history[]

Limpopo played eight first-class matches in the 2006-07 season, losing five and drawing the other three. They played seven matches in the Provincial One-Day Challenge, winning two and losing five.

Their highest score in each competition was made by Andrew Galloway.[2] In the first-class match against Free State he scored 127 off 123 balls in the first innings to help Limpopo to their highest score of 402 for 7 declared.[3] He finished the season with 421 runs at an average of 42.10, scored at a run-rate of 108.22 runs per 100 balls. The five matches he played in 2006-07 were Galloway's whole first-class career. In the one-day competition he hit 91 not out off 88 balls against North West.

The other prominent batsmen in the first-class matches were Pieter Haasbroek,[4] who scored 497 runs at 31.06, and Johannes Shokane,[5] who scored 437 runs at 36.41, including one century. In each case 2006-07 gave them their only first-class matches.

The two main bowlers were the pacemen Tumi Masekela,[6] who took 22 wickets at 24.18 and continues to play first-class cricket, and Sammy Letsoalo,[7] who took 22 wickets at 29.40 and subsequently played a few matches for North West.

Later history[]

In a competition that was itself of borderline first-class status, Cricket South Africa considered Limpopo's performance (and those of Kei and Mpumalanga) too weak to justify their place, and after one season, all three teams were omitted.[8] They have played no further first-class cricket.

Limpopo continue to play at sub-first-class level.[9] Since 2010-11 they have competed in the Cricket South Africa Rural League, inland division, a 50-over competition.[10] Their under-age teams compete in the annual inter-provincial tournaments.[11]

In August 2018, they were included in the 2018 Africa T20 Cup tournament.[12][13]

Squad[]

In April 2021, Cricket South Africa confirmed the following squad ahead of the 2021–22 season.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ “Historical provincial cricket clash”, Zoutnet (November 19, 2004).
  2. ^ Andrew Galloway at Cricket Archive
  3. ^ Free State v Limpopo 2006-07
  4. ^ Pieter Haasbroek at Cricket Archive
  5. ^ Johannes Shokane at Cricket Archive
  6. ^ Tumi Masekela at Cricket Archive
  7. ^ Sammy Letsoalo at Cricket Archive
  8. ^ Colin Bryden, "Cricket in South Africa, 2006-07", Wisden 2008, p. 1338.
  9. ^ Impalas put up spirited display against Uganda Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Other matches played by Limpopo". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  11. ^ Limpopo teams
  12. ^ "CSA launches expanded Africa T20 Cup". Cricket365. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Ghana and Nigeria set to join Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South African domestic sides in expanded Africa T20 Cup". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Division Two squads named for next season". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 29 April 2021.

External sources[]

Further reading[]

  • South African Cricket Annual – various editions
  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack – various editions
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