Mpumalanga — Western Province: 111:136, CSA T20 Challenge

Western Province beat Mpumalanga 136 to 111 in the CSA T20 on Friday. The visitors took control early and never let the hosts back into the contest. It was the sort of result that showed the gap between two teams in different parts of the table.

Mpumalanga started with ambitions but found themselves chasing from the first over. The visitors batted with purpose, building a lead that felt comfortable by the middle of the innings. The home side's batting order never really clicked, and they lost wickets at crucial moments. By then the game was already slipping away.

We had called for the away win before kick-off, and the result confirmed that assessment. Western Province have the deeper squad and looked the stronger side on the day. The 72 per cent confidence was well-placed, though the margin of victory was wider than expected.

The visitors now sit second on 17 points from five games. Mpumalanga remain in fourth place with just six points from three matches. The gap between them is widening, and the table is starting to take shape. There is unrest in the dressing room at home, but that is an assessment, not a fact.

Recent form suggests both sides can score freely, but Western Province converted their chances while Mpumalanga found themselves falling short. The away side's four wins from five games show consistency that the home team has yet to match. They have not won since their opening fixture.