The CSA One Day Cup once again delivered a tense last ball finish for the umpteenth time this competition as the North West Dragons beat the ITEC Knights by 3 wickets in Bloemfontein today (Monday, 21 March).
Duan Jansen (22* from 16 balls) hit the winning runs after smashing a loose full toss from Alfred Mothoa to the fine leg boundary to reach the 280 run target.
It was scenes of jubilation for Jansen and the Dragons and they fought tooth and nail for this victory that keeps their unbeaten run intact in the competition. The final over saw the Dragons needing 13 off 6 balls with Khanya Cotani and Jansen at the crease.
The first ball went for a wide, now it was only 12 from 6 balls required.
Cotani managed to hit the next ball for a boundary and suddenly the Dragons are in drivers seat.
Next ball goes to long on for two runs. Only 5 from 4 required, but Cotani sacrifices his wicket, trying to scamper a run on a bye.
Now it is up to Jansen with 5 required from 3 balls.
The next ball goes to long on for two runs and the equation reads 3 from 2.
A dot ball from Mothoa follows and now the Knights are back in it.
3 required from 1 – who will crack?
In the end that was answered in full when Mothoa missed his mark and Jansen capitalised. Credit must also be given to the non striker, Nono Pongolo, who kept Jansen calm amid all the drama.
Earlier on, the Knights posted a challenging 279/7 in a similar innings to that of the Dragons. The Knights’ captain, Pite van Biljon (65) and Raynard van Tonder (51) hit valuable half-centuries. Pongolo (3/52) and Jansen (1/36) were the pick of the Dragons bowlers.
The Dragons replied well with a 114-run opening stand between Lesego Senokwane (65 off 72) and Wesley Marshall (41 off 67). Knights off-spinner, Jacques Snyman (3/42) bowled beautifully and got the wickets of both openers in quick succession.
Shaylen Pillay (52 off 70) and Delano Potgieter (54 off 41) gave momentum in the chase as they managed to lower the run rate required.
In the end the Dragons kept their calm and completed a famous win thanks to the earlier efforts in the middle of the innings from Pillay and Potgieter who laid the foundation in the chase.
The Dragons’ next opponent is the Gbets Rocks who they will face at home this Friday, 25 March at the J.B. Marks Oval.
