The North West Dragons started their year on a losing note in the CSA Provincial One Day Competition with an 8-wicket loss against SWD in Oudtshoorn on Sunday, 7 January.
The Dragons posted 257/6 in their 50 overs but SWD responded superbly with 258/2 as they chased the score with ease, reaching their target with 28 balls to spare.
This was the Dragons’ first loss in the competition this season after raking up 7 consecutive wins. The thorn in the Dragons side was the SWD batsman, Niel Hornbuckle, who hit an unbeaten 153 en route to taking his side to a comfortable victory.
Hornbuckle hit 16 fours and a six as North West’s bowlers had no answer for his clinical and consistent batting. His 138-run opening partnership with Hanno Kotze (60) set the platform for the victory.
Earlier, the North West Dragons set up a commendable total with André Malan hitting 100* as he scored back-to-back one day centuries against SWD, having posted 123 in March last year. Malan reached the landmark with the penultimate delivery of the innings as his knock gave the visitors hope. Malan found a willing batting partner in Richardt Frenz who stroked his way to a superb 91. Together, they put up a much needed 137-run partnership.
In the end, their innings were overshadowed when Hornbuckle’s excellence gave SWD a surprising victory.
North West’s Sunfoil 3-Day match against SWD, played at the same venue from 4-6 January, saw the teams settle for a draw after three days of batting paradise. SWD batted first and compiled 385/7 declared with Obus Pienaar hitting an unbeaten 119 for the home side.
In reply, North West hit 569/6 with Richardt Frenz (130 from 246) and André Malan (151* from 305) being the stars of the show. Malan’s unbeaten 151 also means that he could not be bowled out for the duration of the weekend in both red and white ball cricket, which is a fantastic feat.
Ruan Haasbroek (59), Janneman Malan (67) and Isaac Dikgale (76) also contributed half-centuries in North West’s massive first innings score.