Knights require 369 for victory
by Bruno Dunn 29 December 2012, 18:18
A magnificent century from Temba Bavuma and a 31-ball 50 from Imran Tahir helped the bizhub Highveld Lions reach 313 for eight declared in their Sunfoil Series match against the Chevrolet Knights at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday. The Knights need 369 for victory and were 13 for no loss at the close of play.
Ryan McLaren (52) and Quinton Friend (14) started the day on a positive note, trying to hit boundaries whenever they could. In the fifth over of the day, Garnett Kruger found the edge of McLaren’s bat and it went straight to Thami Tsolekile. The Knights captain was out for 63.
With the Knights only able to score three runs from the next three overs, McLaren declared the innings. Friend left unbeaten on 23. Kruger was the chief destroyer for the Lions, claiming 6-77 in 25 overs.
Johan van der Wath bagged himself five wickets in the first innings, and he was among the wickets immediately in the second innings. He bowled Quinton de Kock in the third over for one to leave the Lions in early trouble at one for one.
On the stroke of lunch, Friend bowled Stephen Cook for 25 and the Lions went into the break on 97 for two.
After lunch, Bavuma and Neil McKenzie built a partnership that gave the Lions the advantage in the match. With McKenzie on 43, Malusi Siboto found a way through his defences and bowled him.
Bavuma went past 50 from 96 deliveries, as the lead passed 200. Zander de Bruyn came and went for five when Werner Coetsee trapped him LBW before wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile saw the Lions to tea.
After tea, the home side looked to increase the run-rate in order to have time to bowl the Knights out. Tsolekile was out for 23 when he hit a Coetsee delivery to Friend. Brett Pelser scored 15 before he became Van der Wath’s seven wicket of the match.
Bavuma went past 100 in 146 deliveries, and with the home side 233 for six Tahir came to the crease swinging. He brought up his half century in only 31 deliveries as the Lions total passed 300.
Bavuma was finally out when he was caught and bowled by Coetsee for a well played 132. When Kruger lasted two balls for his duck, Stephen Cook declared the innings on 313 for eight. Tahir was left not out on 58 from 41 deliveries, including 10 fours and a six.
Coetsee was the pick of the bowling attack with figures of 4-96 from 23.5 overs.
Rudi Second and Michael Erlank saw off the remaining six overs of the day, finding themselves undefeated on 4 and 8 at stumps respectively.
Report Day 1
Report Day 2
Report Day 3
TEAMS:
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: SC Cook (capt), Q de Kock, ND McKenzie, T Bavuma, Z de Bruyn, TL Tsolekile (wk), BJ Pelser, I Tahir, GJP Kruger, P Matshikwe, E Leie
CHEVROLET KNIGHTS: MN Erlank, RS Second (wk), RR Rossouw, RT Bailey, AJ Pienaar, R McLaren (capt), WL Coetsee, JJ van der Wath, SC van Schalkwyk, Q Friend, MP Siboto
