The visitors started strong thanks to opener Gerrit Snyman’s brilliant 85 off 77 balls. Ghihan Cloete (15 of 46) and Lesego Senokwane (18 off 27) slowed things down somewhat, but Patrick Botha got things back on track for the Knights with 40 off 45 balls. Dominic Hendriks (29 off 35) and Dian Forrester (21 off 23) also helped things along, but could only put 257 on the board in 48 overs.

Ruan de Swart was the stand-out bowler for the Dragons, getting three wickets for 44 runs in 7.5 overs.  Kerwin Mungroo and Matthew Kleinveldt took two scalps each. The match was reduced to 48 overs a side following a stoppage due to lightning in the area during the Knights’ innings.

The Dragons started with a bang, thanks to a sensational 90 by opener Janneman Malan (off 118) and a handy 42 off 37 by Kleinveldt. Raynard van Tonder was trapped in front of the wickets by Aaron Phangiso for 0, but the rest of the Dragons batting line-up all managed double figures, to hand the Dragons the victory in 46.5 overs.

Phangiso and Malusi Siboto took control between the 11th and 20th overs, conceding only 34 runs between the two of them.  Phangiso also took two wickets for 42 runs in 10 overs, with Johan van Dyk also taking two wickets, but bleeding runs (53 runs in 6 overs).

Both teams will be in action again on Wednesday, with the Dragons travelling to Cape Town to take on Western Province, and the Knights hosting the Warriors in Bloemfontein.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg