The North West Dragons bowlers managed to keep their team’s title hopes alive with an unbelievable bowling performance against the Warriors in Gqeberha today (Sunday, 22 October) to secure the bonus point win they needed to reach the final.
The Dragons skittled the Warriors out for just 94 (34.5 overs) before reaching the target in 20.4 overs with their total on 97/3. The bowlers gave nothing away as they used the conditions to great effect.
The Dragons needed to get a victory with a run-rate of 1.5 more than their opponents and they did just that with an easy win. The Dragons, who are equal on 18 points on the table with the Warriors, squeezed through with a better run-rate of 0.284.
The main hero for the Dragons was Ruan de Swardt who tore the heart out of the Warriors batting line-up at St. Georges Park with career-best figures of 4/17. He also executed a superb run-out of Sinethemba Qeshile with a direct hit.
De Swart picked up Matthew Breetzke (8) caught at mid-off, Andile Mokgakane (0) and Beyers Swanepoel (1) caught behind before trapping Renaldo Meyer LBW for 2.
It was a sorry scorecard for the Warriors, who crumbled under overcast skies and a barrage of accurate seam bowling from the Dragons.
Kerwin Mungroo (2/18), Migael Pretorius (1/35) and Duan Jansen (1/17) were excellent in keeping the pressure on. Jansen also got the key wicket of the in-form Tristan Stubbs, caught excellently at cover by Raynard van Tonder.
Only Patrick Kruger with 44 showed resilience for the men for the Eastern Cape.
In reply, the Dragons accumulated the necessary runs with astute batting from Lesego Senokwane (36 off 63 balls) and Raynard van Tonder (23 off 36) taking them to the target. Captain, Wihan Lubbe finished off proceedings with an unbeaten 7.
The Warriors will look back at a chance missed of reaching the final, after suffering back to back defeats against the Rocks and Dragons. Conversely, the Dragons can now celebrate of their best performances in recent history where everything clicked on a magical day.
The Dragons showcased willpower and determination to book their spot in the final against the unbeaten Western Province on Saturday 28 October at Newlands.
- In other matches, the Lions demolished the Titans for 78 all out, completing a comfortable 8 wicket win. The Lions will now finish fourth on the table.
- Western Province beat the Rocks by 5 wickets, whilst the Tuskers and Dolphins match was abandoned due to rain.
Here is the final table:
