Over the weekend, the Knights claimed their first victory of the campaign and their first home win of the season with a commanding 157-run triumph over Western Province at the Mangaung Oval.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Knights posted 249 runs in 49.1 overs, with Dominic Hendricks top-scoring with 55, while young Seth Fledermaus impressed with a well-played 52 off 59 balls.

Jacques Snyman. Photo: Morgan Piek

The tone was set early with Jacques Snyman contributing a brisk 44 off 48 balls, including five fours and a six. Hendricks, who also took on wicketkeeping duties in the absence of Gihahn Cloete, played a patient knock and rotated the strike effectively.

Making his Division 1 debut, Fledermaus kept the scoreboard ticking in the latter part of the innings, bringing up his maiden half-century before losing his wicket while trying to accelerate the scoring in the final overs.

Spinner Imran Manack was the standout bowler for Boland, returning figures of 2/35 in his 10 overs. Former Knights leg-spinner Shaun von Berg also bowled economically to build pressure, claiming the crucial wickets of Dian Forrester for 3 and Hendricks.

In response, Boland managed 228/9 in their 50 overs, with Michael Copeland scoring 45 and Aviwe Mgijima – cousin of Cheetahs centre Ali Mgijima – chipping in with 35.

Despite a solid start with the bat, Forrester made the breakthrough for the Knights by dismissing the dangerous Grant Roelofsen for 12. Shortly after, Tiaan van Vuuren claimed the first of his four wickets, removing Blayde Capell for 15.

Van Vuuren was the pick of the Knights’ bowlers

The Knights’ bowling attack, led by Van Vuuren, did an excellent job of keeping Boland behind the required run rate. As the pressure mounted, Boland struggled to keep up with the asking rate.

Van Vuuren was the pick of the Knights’ bowlers, finishing with 4/39 in his 10 overs. Snyman chipped in with 2/31 in six overs, while Forrester and captain Dane Piedt each claimed a wicket.

This victory has lifted the Knights back up to third on the log – a position they will look to maintain or improve as the knockout rounds approach.

Meanwhile, at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, the Warriors thrashed the North West Dragons by 121 runs. In a round of upsets, the Dolphins stunned the Lions with a six-wicket win at Kingsmead in Durban, while at Newlands in Cape Town, the Titans beat defending champions Western Province by 41 runs.

The Knights’ next match is against the Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday. The game at the Bullring is scheduled to start at 13:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg