Du Preez, Second star in Knights victory
by Jason Pearce 13 January 2013, 16:13
Chevrolet Knights allrounder Dillon du Preez starred with both bat and ball as the visitors wrapped up a 10-wicket victory over the Nashua Titans on day four of their Sunfoil Series clash at Sahara Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday.
Full Scorecard –Titans v Knights
Du Preez notched up match figures of 8 for 94 to go with a first-innings 118 to round off a superb all-round match performance for the 31-year-old Free State stalwart.
After bowling the Titans out for 182 in their second innings, Knights openers Michael Erlank and Gihahn Cloete knocked off the required 42 runs for victory in 10 overs and two balls to move up to fourth on the Sunfoil Series log with 69.02 points.
Resuming on 24 for 3 this morning, Titans keeper Heino Kuhn and skipper Henry Davids took the score to 50 for 3 after 26 overs, before Davids, after striking three fours off Du Preez, fell LBW to the last ball of the over, departing for 29 including four boundaries.
Kuhn was joined by Roelof van der Merwe and together the pair put on 24 before Kuhn was bowled by Pat Botha for a hard-fought 51, which included eight fours and a six.
Van der Merwe provided some resistance, top scoring with 65 including 10 fours and a six, but it was a case of too little, too late as the Titans' resolve wilted in the highveld sun.
The victory was set up by a remarkable, match-turning day's cricket on Saturday, as a near-record eighth wicket partnership of 253 between Rudi Second and Du Preez had the Titans going wicketless for 73 toiling overs.
Du Preez was finally out for 118 while Second was the last man to be dismissed for a brilliant, marathon innings of 210, with 21 fours and one six.
The partnership, while falling just four runs short of the SA first- class record for the eighth wicket of 257 currently held by Dane Vilas and Robin Peterson, did claim the franchise record for the same wicket.
High drama was to follow, as an inspired Knights attack nipped out the first three wickets before a run was scored, a triple-blow from which the Titans never recovered.
After winning the toss and batting first on Thursday, skipper Henry Davids fell just eight runs short of a gritty century as the Titans finished strongly on 321 for 7 at the close of play on day one.
Day two once again belonged to the home side, with CJ de Villiers taking four for 37 as the Knights stuttered to 190 for seven in reply to the Titans' 335 all out when bad light stopped play early on Friday.
It was one-way traffic from Saturday morning as the Knights showed enormous fighting qualities and wonderful skill to effect a remarkable come-from-behind victory.
Report Day 1
Report Day 2
Report Day 3
NASHUA TITANS: Pieter Malan, Mangaliso Mosehle, Henry Davids (capt), Roelof van der Merwe, Heino Kuhn (wk), Ethy Mbhalati, Farhaan Behardien, Graeme van Buuren, Juan de Villiers, Shaun von Berg, CJ de Villiers
CHEVROLET KNIGHTS: Gihahn Cloete, Michael Erlank, Rudi Second (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Ryan Bailey, Obus Pienaar, Pat Botha, Johan van der Wath (capt), Dillon du Preez, Quinton Friend, Malusi Siboto
