The North West Dragons made a fantastic start to their season with victories in both the Sunfoil 3-Day and the CSA One-Day competitions against Border at Senwes Park between 16 and 18 October. North West won the toss on Thursday, 16 October and decided to bowl. It turned out to be a good decision as they removed Border for a mere 156 with Dieter Klein the chief destroyer with 5/50.

North West amassed a solid 351 all out in their first innings with Kagiso Rapulana (88), André Malan, Nicky van der Bergh (79) and Brady Barends (43) the main contributors. The pitch played very easily in the Border second innings and they collected a handsome score of 306 with Johannes Diseko taking 4/80 and Dieter Klein 3/65. This left North West with a target of 112 which they achieved with only one wicket down. Richard Frenz was unbeaten on 56* and Rapulane chipped in a useful 40.

This winning formula continued in the one-day match on Sunday with a more even contest during the 50 overs. Border made 235/10 and the Dragons replied with 239/8. In the Border innings, Brady Barends took 3/35 and Johannes Diseko 3/51 with his left arm spin. Janneman Malan was the mainstay of the Dragons innings with 61,Border batted first with Abuyela Gqamane scoring a valiant 65.

The Dragons battled in their reply and were in trouble at 177/7 with only Janneman Malan (61) scoring a half century. The Dragons’ rearguard action from Johannes Diseko, in partnership with Bjorn Fortuin, was crucial. The duo put on 57 runs for the eighth wicket with Fortuin eventually steering his side to victory with two balls to spare.The Dragons face-off against KZN Inland in Pietermaritzburg in their next Sunfoil 3 Day match from 22 to 24 October