With the Dragons first innings score on 88/6, not even the most ardent NW Dragons supporter would have thought that there would be much chance of a victory in their opening CSA One Day Cup match against Western Province at the J.B. Marks Oval on Friday, 11 March.
A brilliant comeback soon unfolded with Senuran Muthusamy’s 100 and a top bowling performance taking the Dragons to a well-deserved 17-run win in front of their home fans in Potchefstroom.
Earlier on, opener, Heino Kuhn looked in good touch with 49, hitting some glorious cover drives.
The notion of another Dragons batting collapse looked on the cards after a middle-order slump saw the hosts go from 79/1 to 88/6.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
The Dragons in form and determined all rounder, Senuran Muthusamy, though had other ideas as his debut list A 100 gave the Dragons a chance for victory in their total of 243/9 in 50 overs.
Muthusamy played a superb knock, stroking the ball into the gaps, and hitting numerous superb shots over extra cover against left arm spinners, George Linde and Kyle Simmonds.
He had great superb from wicket-keeper, Khanya Cotani whose 41 (63) was invaluable in giving the Dragons a chance at posting a decent score. WP’s best bowler was the tall fast-bowler, Mihlali Mpongwana with 3/31 in 9 overs.
The Dragons’ bowlers knew they had to take early wickets from the start to put pressure on a strong WP team and they did exactly that. Delano Potgieter (2/30) dismissed the dangerous Richard Levi, whilst Dwaine Pretorius (3/40) also chipped in with valuable wickets. Caleb Seleka’s (2/36) also put the pressure on WP.
Heino Kuhn’s run-out of Proteas batsman, Kyle Verreynne, for 9 was also a big turning point in the match. Pretorius’ dismissal of WP’s standout batsman Jonathan Bird for 117, was also crucial, as he looked to almost single handedly win the match for Province.
It was fitting that Muthusamy took the final catch to win the match for the Dragons – it was his gritty knock that set it up in the first place.
