The Knights were bowled out for 266 runs in their first innings at Boland Park with the spinner, Aaron Phangiso, scoring 73 while Isaac Dikgale scored 40, and Dian Forrester added 30. The former Knights spinner, Shaun von Berg, was the pick of the Boland bowlers with 4/61 in 20.4 overs.

In reply, the captain Clyde Fortuin scored 54, and Gavin Kaplan scored 51 as Boland were also bowled out for 266 in their first innings. Johan van Dyk took 4/46 as the pick of the Knights bowlers, while Phangiso took 3/54.

A knock of 71 runs by Forrester led the Knights to 291 in their second innings while Gihan Cloete chipped in with 38. Once again, Von Berg was the pick of the Boland bowlers with 3/79.

Aaron Phangiso. Photo: Morgan Piek

Boland went into the final day of play in Paarl needing 277 runs for the win. This after they resumed their second innings on 14/1, however, the veteran spinner Phangiso took three quick wickets to see the hosts reeling at 74/7 at lunch.

The seamer, Van Dyk, was the star with the ball once again by taking 5/28 as Boland were bowled out for 122.

While it’s only one round into the 4-Day Series, the Knights are at the top of the log.

Garnett Tarr and Johan van Dyk. Photo: Morgan Piek

In the other first-round games there was a win for Western Province as well. Province beat the Dolphins by 51 runs at Kingsmead in Durban. Over at St Georges’ Park in Gqeberha, the Warriors and North West Dragons played to a draw, while the Lions and Titans didn’t play in week one. Their first match will be a Jukskei derby at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and will get underway on Tuesday.

The Knights will play at home during round two when they welcome the Dragons to Bloemfontein. The Knights are expected to have two senior statesmen – Aubrey Swanepoel and Jacques Snyman – back after they represented South Africa at the Hong Kong Sixes on the weekend. 

This match between the Knights and Dragons at the Mangaung Oval is scheduled to get underway on Thursday at 10:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg