Smith ready to lead YesPlay WP Cobras into new season against Dafabet Warriors

September 2026

NEWLANDS – YesPlay WP Cobras captain Daniel Smith is eager to lead the Boys in Blue into a new era as they begin their 2026/27 1st Class Series campaign against Dafabet Warriors at YesPlay Newlands Cape Town on Thursday, 10 September.

The season opener, which starts at 10h00 and will be livestreamed on Pitch Vision, offers the YesPlay WP Cobras an early opportunity to set the tone for the campaign. Smith says the squad is determined to turn the tables after difficult encounters against the Warriors in recent seasons.

“It’s exciting,” said Smith. “Obviously, the first game of the season, so the boys are buzzing – it’s against the Warriors. I feel like the last two seasons, we haven’t been at our best against them.

“We’ve got a young and exciting group of guys, so we’re going to come out firing. With that, we’ve got a lot of experience within our team, so we’re going to feed off that energy, and hopefully we can get a victory over the line for our first game.”

While respecting the challenge posed by the Dafabet Warriors, Smith says the YesPlay WP Cobras are focused on executing their own game plan and building momentum from the outset.

“I think we’re going to stick to our game,” he said. “As I said before, the Warriors have had the upper hand on us the last two years, so we’re determined to make a strong start this week.

“We’ve got a point to prove this week, and obviously the start of the season, and we’re really excited to go out there.”

The return of Proteas internationals Kyle Verreynne and David Bedingham provides an additional boost, bringing proven quality and leadership to an exciting young squad.

“Luckily our Proteas have been away doing some really good work overseas, so hopefully they can bring that valuable experience into our group and help guide our younger players,” he adds.

As the WP Cobras embark on their first full season under a new identity and with the support of title sponsor YesPlay, Smith believes the team has an opportunity to establish an exciting brand of cricket.

“It’s a really exciting time for the YesPlay Cobras, the new name, and obviously we’ve got a massive sponsor on board, so it’s really exciting to show them what we’re about and the way we want to play our cricket and our brand over here.”

The match marks the beginning of a new chapter for the YesPlay WP Cobras, who will be looking to build momentum early in the season while establishing themselves as contenders in the red-ball competition.

ABOUT WESTERN PROVINCE CRICKET ASSOCIATION (WPCA)

The WPCA is the custodian of cricket in the Cape Metropole and oversees the development and promotion of the game across all levels, from grassroots participation to professional cricket (YesPlay WP Cobras). As one of South Africa’s most historic and successful cricket regions, WPCA plays a key role in hosting international matches at the iconic YesPlay Newlands Cape Town and growing the sport in the province.