The young guns of the North West Dragons Colts showed their mettle last weekend (2–4 December) in a drawn 3-day match against the KZN Inland Tuskers at the J.B. Marks Oval.
The Dragons Colts featured numerous players who are knocking on the door of the NW Dragons senior side. Some regular Dragons players also needed game time. It proved to be a great showcase of the talent at the Dragons’ disposal as the players put their hand up with both bat and ball.
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Stylish left-hander, Heinrigh Pieterse, played a superb innings of 166 (157 balls), which included 20 fours and two sixes. Taheer Isaacs (62 off 155) ably supported Pieterse with a more subdued and defensive innings in the NW Dragons Colts’ first innings total of 465/9.
On the bowling side, it was the NWU paceman, AJ Jacobs who impressed the most for the Dragons Colts with 5/78. Jacobs regularly hit the corridor of various uncertainty-inducing edges from the KZN Inland batsmen. Bantu Dandala took (3/51) and Chad Classen (2/58) in an economical and workmanlike 28 overs.
KZN Inland Tuskers managed 325 all out with Akhil Ebrahim (81 off 160) and Zak Paruk (88 off 102) making the most runs on the J.B. Marks Oval pitch.
The Dragons Colts finished their second innings on 129/1 after 28 overs before stumps were called on the final day. Isaacs once again showcased his talent with his second half-century of the match (65 off 81 balls). Chris Britz also made an unbeaten 58 (83).