The match was evenly poised until the final quarter when the Crinums took control for a 40-30 win at the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre in Bloemfontein.

Crinums vice-captain, Sne Mdletshe, told OFM Sport that there were jitters.

“It was a good ice breaker in a sense because it was the first game for the team.

“There were some jitters that we needed to get rid of and that is why we might not have been as consistent as we wanted to be.

“With that being said I think it was a good first game and we got rid of all of the jitters.”

The Crinums face the Gauteng Golden Fireballs at 8:00 on Thursday morning.

At 10:00 the Northern Cape Diamonds make their first appearance against the Mpumalanga Sunbirds, and at 12:00 the Southern Strings take on the North West Flames.

Day One results:

Gauteng Jaguars 34 vs. 31 North West Flames

KZN Kingdom Stars 30 vs. 40 Free State Crinums

Eastern Cape Aloes 34 vs. 29 Tornadoes

WC Southern Stings 36 vs. 38 Gauteng Golden Fireballs

Kingdom Queens 42 vs. 34 Limpopo Baobabs

Day Two Fixtures:

8:00 – Gauteng Golden Fireballs vs Free State Crinums

10:00 – Northern Cape Diamonds vs Mpumalanga Sunbirds

12:00 – WC Southern Stings vs North West Flames

15:00 – KZN Kingdom Stars vs Gauteng Jaguars

17:00 – Limpopo Baobabs vs Eastern Cape Aloes

@MorganPiek OFM Sport