Just a week after the CSA T20 extravaganza of big hits and tumbling wickets, the North West Dragons now need to switch their focus to the four-day series in a crunch opening match against the Imperial Lions at the Wanderers from 29 October to 1 November.
The Dragons will don their whites for the first time this season at a venue that is quite familiar to numerous Dragons who recently switched from Joburg to Potch.
Eldred Hawken, Nicky van den Bergh, Wesley Marshall, Nono Pongolo and Shaylen Pillay plied their trade for the Gauteng outfit and will enjoy a win against their former team.
NW Dragons 4-day series fixtures
9 October–1 November: NW Dragons vs Imperial Lions – Wanderers
5–8 November: NW Dragons vs ITEC Knights – J.B. Marks Oval
18–21 November: NW Dragons vs Gbets Warriors – J.B. Marks Oval
25–28 November: NW Dragons vs Hollywoodbets Dolphins – J.B. Marks Oval
19–22 December: Gbets Rocks vs NW Dragons – Boland Park
4–7 March 2022: Six Gun Grill Western Province vs NW Dragons – Newlands
11–14 March: North West Dragons vs Multiply Titans – J.B. Marks Oval
Conversely, the Lions also have some former Dragons players in their set-up, like Jonty Rapulana, Malusi Siboto, Ruan Haasbroek and Shane Dadswell.
The key players for the Lions will be the talented Ryan Rickelton and pace bowlers, Sisanda Magala and Siboto. NW Dragons’ head coach, Monty Jacobs, is confident ahead of the first four-day match of the 2021/22 season, where the Dragons will play seven matches (four home and three away).
“We are going to evaluate a couple of players this week before selecting a starting eleven for the game against the Lions. We are looking forward to the four-day series and will look to start on the right note,” stated Jacobs.
The Dragons will play three home fixtures in a row in November and will undoubtedly target those as must-wins in a tough Division 1 series against SA’s premier domestic teams.
