Cricket
The Knights draw first blood in the Sunfoil Series─── 10:00 Mon, 29 Sep 2014
The Chevrolet Knights have drawn first blood with an impressive 128 run win to continue the Sunfoil Series where they left in off last season, by beating the Warriors in Bloemfontein in a match where runs where hard to come by.
The evenly poised match was beautifully setup for the home side thanks to an outstanding second innings century by wicketkeeper, Rudi Second.
The patient knock by Second saw the player score his 113 runs in 392 minutes, facing 266 deliveries.
Along with his ton Proteas ODI batsman, Rilee Rossouw scored 44 runs, while fast bowlers Corné Dy and Quinton scored 40 and 44 respectively at the back of the innings to steer the side to 327 all out.
The two bowlers each chalked up 51 runs in the first innings as well which helped the Knights from 32/8 to 140 all out.
Amazingly the host were able to dismiss the visitors for 137 runs in their first innings, giving them a 3 runs lead.
The Warriors batsmen to trouble the scorers were Basheeru-Deen Walters and Colin Ingram with 29 and 24 runs respectively.
Early wickets by Friend and Dry once again put the side from the Eastern Cape on the back foot as they were eventually bowled out for 202 runs, with Jon-Jon Smuts scoring 63 runs before being run out by Rossouw.
Apart from Seconds’ knock, the experienced Friend and newcomer Dry were without a doubt the sides’ stars. Friend scored 95 runs in the two innings and turned in bowling figures of 53/4, while the 21-year-old Dry scored 91 runs with the willow and had claimed 78/7 with the leather.
Captain Werner Coetsee, told OFM Sport they never thought they would have won the match in three days after reeling on 32/ 8 in their first innings.
“I’m very happy about the game. It was the first one of the season and we got it out of the way with a win, I couldn’t have asked for a better start.
“It was an amazing game being on 32/8 and you didn’t see yourself at the end of day three finishing with a win.
“They showed their adaptability and the fight they had - Quinton Friend and Corné Dry in the first innings and then Rudi Second just got stuck into the work in the second innings,” the skipper said about his players’ attitude.
“He scored his runs off more than 250 balls. He was the only one who got to the chance to spend that much time at the wicket and he made it count.
“That was probably the match winning innings,” Coetsee said about Seconds’ knock.
The Knights now turn their attentions to the Lions, who they will face in Potchefstroom as from Thursday.
After one round, the Lions lead the standings following a massive 190 run win over the Titans at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
