North West vs Lions CSA One-Day Challenge Predictions - Van Buuren to keep the Lions on the winning track

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 04 Mar 2026

Simon Lewis 04 Mar 2026

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Mitchell van Buuren hit three sixes in his 76-ball 88* against Western Province.
Meeka-eel Prince has scored 38, 64, 21 and 61 in his last four innings.
Can the Lions beat North West for their second win of the season as they look to wipe out the memory of last season’s poor one-day campaign?

Expired

Zubayr Hamza cuts against the Netherlands (Getty Images).

North West vs Lions Predictions

Both sides won their opening match of the tournament, with the North West pulling off a big runs win, while the Lions scraped home in a rain-marred match. The Lions’ top order looks strong, so I’m backing them to outmuscle North West.

North West vs Lions Predictions
Head-to-Head
North West Form
Lions Form
North West vs Lions Team News

Lions’ Mitchell van Buuren has scored 51 & 88* in his last 3 innings.
Lions’ Zubayr Hamza has scored 98, 69* & 46 in his last 5 innings.
North West’s Meeka-eel Prince hit 3 sixes in his 76-ball 61 against KZN Inland.
North West’s Dian Forrester has scored 123*, 22 & 68 in his last 3 innings.

Head-to-Head

The Lions have won two and lost one of their four CSA One-Day Challenge matches against North West. One match was rained-out.

North West Form

North West got their season off to a winning start by beating KZN Inland by 72 runs.

North West racked up 291/7 off their 50 overs away to KZN Inland. Meeka-eel Prince (61 off 76) and Dian Forrester (68 off 67) starred with the bat. Dominic Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Paul James and Ruan de Swardt passed 20 for their side.

The North West bowlers stuck to their task after an 88-run stand for the 1st wicket kept KZN Inland in the hunt. Caleb Seleka picked up 2/23 off five overs (econ 4.60), but the star of the innings was North West’s Onke Nyaku, who picked up six wickets in 7.2 overs (econ 5.59) to roll KZN Inland for 219 off 46.2 overs.

Lions Form

In a match reduced by rain, the Lions beat Western Province by 15 runs. With Province’s inning reduced to 42 overs, the visitors did well to score 259/7 off 42 overs. Bjorn Fortuin (2/39, econ 3.90) was exceptional with the ball for the Lions.

Nqabayomzi Peter (2/46, econ 5.75) and Codi Yusuf (2/43, econ 6.14) also bowled superbly, both picking up two top-six wickets.

Zubayr Hamza (46 off 38) and Mitchell Van Buuren (88* off 76) broke the back of the run-chase. Van Buuren had great support from Wiaan Mulder (30) and Connor Esterhuizen (39*) as they were ahead of the asking rate when rain ended their innings after 36 overs.

North West vs Lions Team News

North West (possible XI): Wihan Lubbe, Meeka-eel Prince, Dominic Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester, Paul James, Ruan de Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Onke Nyaku, Alfred Mothoa.

Lions (possible XI): Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Mitchell Van Buuren, Wiaan Mulder, Connor Esterhuizen, Wandile Makwetu, Bjorn Fortuin, Codi Yusuf, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lutho Sipamla.

Verdict

North West v Lions

I am backing the Lions to win, with Mitchell Van Buuren to top score.

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