Forrester lays foundation for massive Knights victory

Dian Forrester cracked his second-consecutive unbeaten CSA One-Day Cup century as the Itec Knights crushed World Sports Betting Western Province by 157 runs at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.

The 24-year old allrounder struck four boundaries and five sixes from 99 balls to end unbeaten on 113 as the Knights posted 311 for six after Dane Piedt had won the toss and elected to bat first. The chase was a whimper of an effort from the defending champions, being bowled out for just 154 inside 35 overs to hand the home side a valuable bonus-point victory.

It was an excellent effort from the home side after losing two early wickets with Jacques Snyman and Lesego Senokwane both back in the hut without scoring –being clean-bowled by the veteran seamer Dane Paterson (6-3-52-2).

Gihahn Cloete (35) and Dominic Hendricks (20) arrested the slide with a workman-like stand of 52 for the third wicket from 75 balls. Kyle Simmonds, who had already claimed six wickets in two matches, broke the stand when he had Cloete sweeping strongly to deep backward square-leg but straight into the safe hands of Wesley Bedja.

Hendricks followed shortly thereafter, playing across the line and being trapped in front by Simmonds (10-0-53-3).

Forrester then masterminded the Knights innings, setting up the platform with a stand of 66 for the fifth wicket with Patrick Botha (43), who struck four fours and a six in a 44-ball innings. It took the young pace of Onke Nyaku (9-0-58-1) to break the stand, beating Botha’s defences and flattening his stumps.

Malusi Siboto was elevated up the order and, at first, it looked as though the move would backfire as Siboto struggled to rotate the strike. Yet once he found his rhythm. The left-hander managed to find the fence three times before being caught in the deep from the bowling of Simmonds for a well-played 51-ball 40.

Forrester went to his second List A century of the season from just 94 balls while watching Tiaan van Vuuren bludgeoning four sixes on his way to an unbeaten 41 from just 18 deliveries – as the pair added 79 unbeaten runs for the seventh wicket from only 38 balls.

The response from Province never really generated any momentum. Eddie Moore struck just one four and a six before being caught by Senokwane at point from the bowling of Van Vuuren (5.4-0-16-3) for 18.

Valentine Kitime struggled from the get-go, facing 32 balls for his 13 before being trapped in front by Van Vuuren. David Bedingham (17) struck two boundaries but then found a thick edge to be caught at backward point by Johan van Dyk from the bowling of Aaron Phangiso (6-1-19-1).

Captain Kyle Verreynne (18) faced 34 deliveries but offered Botha a simple catch at short mid-wicket from the bowling of Malusi Siboto (10-0-37-2) while Yaseen Vallie (2) was run out by Botha after a complete mix-up with Verreynne. Mihlali Mpongwana was castled by Siboto first ball before Piedt (7-0-53-2) snuck through Nyaku’s defences for just nine.

George Linde and Simmonds offered some resistance with Linde striking four boundaries and Simmonds cracking two fours and two sixes but Linde was caught by Senokwane at extra cover from the bowling of Piedt.

Paterson failed to score in four balls, offering Van Dyk his only wicket while Van Vuuren returned to end the match by having Wesley Bedja caught by Botha for just a single. Simmonds was left unbeaten on 35 from 25 balls.

The win moves the Knights above Province on the table with seven points from three games with Wester Province possibly slipping further down the pecking order if the North West University Dragons pick up a victory over the DP World Lions tomorrow.

ITEC KNIGHTS: Jacques Snyman, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Lesego Senokwane, Dominic Hendricks, Patrick Botha, Dian Forrester, Tiaan van Vuuren, Aaron Phangiso, Johannes van Dyk, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto.

WSB WESTERN PROVINCE: Valentine Kitime, Eddie Moore, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Yaseen Vallie, George Linde, Mihlali Mpongwana, Onke Nyaku, Kyle Simmonds, Dane Paterson, Wesley Bedja.