Dragons slay Rocks by six-wickets in basement battle

Rubin Hermann’s excellent 48 from just 30 balls and a composed, unbeaten 34 from Raynard van Tonder helped the Auto Investments North West Dragons ease to a six-wicket victory with a ball to spare in their final CSA T20 Challenge match against the Gbets Rocks at Boland Park on Sunday.

Hermann was run out within sight of a half-century, having struck four fours and a six, but the platform for victory had been laid with fellow opener Meeka-eel Prince delivering a steady 37 from 44 deliveries with just a single boundary on a typically slow, awkward pitch.

Earlier the home side’s skipper, Clyde Fortuin, top-scored with 51 from 32 balls with four fours and four sixes before he was beaten for pace and bowled by Bamanye Xenxe.

The home side lost three wickets without scoring a run to slip from 79 for one to 79 for four before Ferisco Adams (29) and Aviwe Mgijima (24 not out) rescued the innings and gave the Rocks something to defend.

Legspinner Caleb Seleka was the pick of the attack with 2-21 from his four overs while the impressive Xenxe was limited to just two overs, finishing with 1-11.

Neither team could reach the semifinals and were playing merely for ‘bragging rights’ being placed sixth and seventh on the eight-team log with just four wins each from their 13 games, just above the AET Tuskers who have won just twice.

ROCKS: Clyde Fortuin (captain/wkt), Adrian du Toit, Shaun von Berg, Keegan Petersen, Aviwe Mgijima, Ferisco Adams, Christiaan Jonker, Aya Gqamane, Imraan Manack, Jevano Baron, Siyabonga Mahima.

DRAGONS: Rubin Hermann, Meeka-eel Prince (wkt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Wihan Lubbs, Raynard van Tonder, Senuran Muthusamy (captain), Duan Jansen, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Gideon Peters.