The ITEC Knights moved to the top of the table in Division 2 of the CSA T20 Challenge on Sunday following a convincing 71-run bonus point win against the Mpumalanga Rhinos in White River.

The Knights had a bat first one the slow wicket at Uplands College and managed to score 168/7 in the allotted 20 overs after at one stage, 130-runs looked to be what they were set for.

A fine cameo of 42 not out by the left-arm seamer, Tiaan van Vuuren, led the Knights to a defendable score. The captain Aubrey Swanepoel found himself among the runs again with 35 before he was run out by Gareth Dukes.

Jon Hinrichsen was the pick of the bowlers with 2/28 in this 4-overs, while the former Knights spinner, Gregory Mahlokwana, who bowls with both arms, took 1/20 in his three overs.

A brilliant and eventful first over by Sithembile Langa, which saw him taking two wickets set the tone for the Rhinos innings and they could never really get going with the bat.

The allrounder, Dukes, top-scored for the hosts with 36-runs, while the former national tennis player, Benjamin van Niekerk, scored 19.

Nipho Mpungose was the pick of the Knights bowlers with 4/26, while Langa finished with 3/17 in his two overs.

Van Vuuren was definitely the Knights best bowler on the day with his 1/17 in 4-overs to apply the pressure, while Swanepoel also did a fine job with his 1/5 in 2-overs. While an official man of the match was not named, who has to feel that it was the former Junior Protea, Van Vuuren.

Swanepoel told OFM Sport that the win is attributed to a fine all-round performance with bat and ball.

“Coming to White River was quite difficult with a lot of rain forecast for the last four days and we expected it to be a slower wicket,” said Swanepoel.

“I think the boys played really well and showed good character to get to the 168-runs that we did.

“Regarding the bowlers, we couldn't have asked for a better start with the ball. Langa getting those two wickets in the first over was really key for us.”

In winning on Saturday the Knights assured themselves of a place in the semi-finals of the T20 Challenge, but Wednesday’s match against the Northern Cape Heat will determine if it will be played at home or away.

In addition to reaching the semi-finals, the Knights have guaranteed themselves of promotion back up to Division 1 as from the 2024/25 season.

In Sunday’s other results, the Limpopo Impalas beat the Eastern Storm by 16-runs at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, while the Heat beat the Eastern Cape Iinyathi by 12-runs at Buffalo Park in East London.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport