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Lions host Dolphins as the Hollywoodbets Pro Series returns

cricket03 October 2025 16:55| © Cricket SA
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DP World Lions Women © Gallo Images

The 2025/26 edition of the Hollywoodbets Pro Series gets underway this weekend at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, where the DP World Lions Women will host the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Ladies in the season’s opening clash.

 

 

Lions enter the campaign as the defending Hollywoodbets Pro50 champions following their triumph last season. Their opponents, Dolphins, started well last season but faded towards the back end, paving the way for Lions, in the 50 over competition, and WSB Western Province Women, in the Hollywoodbets Pro20, to claim the titles on offer.

Lions’ Pro50 captain, Kgomotso Rapoo, says her side is eager to get going, especially with fresh talent stepping into the squad this season.

"We've had a really productive pre-season with plenty of hard work put into our preparation," Rapoo said. "There have been some exciting changes with a number of academy players graduating into the senior squad.

"It’s going to be exciting to see how they perform. The team and management have been putting in the work, and we’re ready for our opening match this weekend."

As defending champions, the Lions will have a target on their back, but Rapoo insists they’re not letting the pressure define them.

"There will definitely be a little bit of pressure being the defending champions, but we’re a strong side and we back our skills to do it again. It’s going to be another exciting season and we can’t wait to get it underway," she added.

 

 

On Sunday, attention shifts to the Hollywoodbets Pro20 opener where the Lions and Dolphins will meet again.

WSB Western Province dominated the format last season, winning nine of their ten matches to secure the title.

Captain, Leah Jones, believes her side has gone into this campaign with a sharper, more tailored build-up.

"We’ve definitely been more focused on individual preparation this pre-season," Jones explained. "Each of us has worked specifically on what we need to bring to the team, and I think that will make a difference."

Western Province will only begin their campaign next weekend with a trip to Oudtshoorn to face the Garden Route Badgers Women, but Jones says the squad is more than ready.

"We were saying at training this week that we just want to get the season started, it feels like it’s been a really long off-season.

"It’s a long competition, so we’ll be taking it one game at a time and building as we go. Playing weekends-only also gives us that week-by-week focus on the opposition, which is a great advantage," she added.

All teams will be tested early in the competition as the Proteas are away on national duty at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Jones sees this as an opportunity for others to shine.

“It’s going to be a great challenge and a chance to test the depth of our squad. Everyone has been putting in the work, and even without the Proteas we’re confident in what we can achieve with the group we have,” she said.

The remaining two teams in the Hollywoodbets Pro Series, the Fidelity Titans and North West Dragons Women, will launch their campaigns against each other over the weekend of 18–19 October.

 

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