The North West Dragons got their first win of the current CSA provincial one day cup season with a 6 wicket victory against Eastern Province at Senwes Park today (Sunday, 21 March).
It was a calculated victory for North West who strolled to the target of 230 thanks to a superb 86 (66) from left-handed opener, Eben Botha. Nic Smit (48) and Chris Britz (49) were unlucky not to reach half-centuries as they batted solidly in the chase.
In the main spectrum of the result, EP just did not get enough runs on the pitch today as they could only reach 229/9. This was mainly due to tidy work from spinners, Johannes Diseko (2/30) and Katle Leokaoke (2/28) who frustrated the EP batsmen in the middle overs.
Diseko also bowled an absolute peach to bowl Tristan Strubbs for 7 – definitely the ball of the day, pitching and turning to hit the top of off stump.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
Joshua van Heerden was the top scoring batsman for EP with 47. No other batsman could kick on with a bigger score and this contributed to the low score.
The North West Dragons made the perfect start with a 74-run opening partnership between Lesego Senokwane (25) and Botha. Botha was the aggressor and hit 4 sixes and 10 fours in a swashbuckling knock.
Luck also went his way with a couple of shots just landing short of fielders. He kept going and also hit a smashing six, a down the track pull shot, to bring up his half-century. Botha also hit two shots of the day. First a superb pick up off his legs over the square leg boundary for six, off the bowling of EP left arm seamer, Tiaan van Vuuren. Then a lofted on drive against Alindile Mhletywa for six.
The Dragons showed that they can manage a run chase and this win will build confidence ahead of two more one day matches back to back against Mpumalanga tomorrow and Central Gauteng on Tuesday.
