The Knights had a bat first at the Diamond Oval in the opening game of the tournament, and it certainly was the Rilee Rossouw show.

The visitors from Bloemfontein managed to post a formidable total of 223/4 in their allotted 20 overs, with the destructive left-handed batter Rossouw and Cole Abrahams leading the charge with the willow.

The Knights lost Jacques Snyman off the final ball of the first over for five runs to Benjamin van Rensburg. Rossouw came to the crease and put on a rapid 33-run partnership for the second wicket with Gihahn Cloete before the latter was dismissed for three in the fourth over.

Rilee Rossouw. Photo: Morgan Piek

Rossouw and Abrahams added a massive 119-run stand for the third wicket off 58 balls before the big-hitting Protea was dismissed. Rossouw fell just short of what would have been his tenth T20 century when he was caught for 96 off 46 balls. 

He certainly didn’t hold back with the bat, smashing eight fours and eight sixes in his match-winning innings.

Abrahams, in turn, went on to score an impressive 54 off 40 balls for his first half-century for the Knights after joining from the Heat.

At the back end of the innings, former Heat captain Ruan Haasbroek impressed with a quick-fire 30 not out, hitting two fours and three consecutive sixes in the final over. The seasoned Patrick Botha was unbeaten on 17.

Van Rensburg was the pick of the Heat bowlers with 2/36 in his four overs, while former Knights spinner Tshepo Ntuli finished with 1/44.

In reply, former Knights wicketkeeper Garnett Tarr was the only Heat batter to really trouble the scorers, with a good knock of 48 off 30 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. 

When he lost his wicket to Malusi Siboto with the score on 86/4 in the 11th over, it was pretty much tickets for the Heat.

The only other Heat batter to reach double figures was Ruan van Rooyen, with a knock of 17.

Garnett Tarr when he was still with the Knights. Photo: Morgan Piek

Ultimately, the Knights bowlers were as impressive as their batters, as they bundled out the Heat for 130 runs with seven balls to spare.

Snyman was the pick of the Knights bowlers with 2/11 in three overs, while debutant Sisanda Magala took 2/12 in 1.5 overs. The fast bowler Joe van Dyk and left-arm spinner Bongi Mhlanga each bagged two scalps as well.

The Knights’ next game will be on Wednesday when they welcome the Limpopo Impalas to Bloemfontein. This match at the Mangaung Oval is scheduled to start at 13:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg