Fledermaus and Hendricks steer Knights to 249

Seth Fledermaus and Dominic Hendricks scored brilliant half-centuries to lead the Knights to 249 in their CSA One-Day Challenge encounter against Goldrush Boland at Mangaung Oval on Wednesday afternoon. Boland need 250 runs to win.

Clyde Reeves-Fortuin, the Boland captain, called incorrectly at the toss and Dane Piedt, his opposite number, elected to bat first. 257 is the average first-innings score in day-night games at Mangaung Oval. This is the first time in four matches that Boland have conceded more than 200 runs.

Fledermaus walked out to bat when the Knights were on 155 for five in the 30th over. The home side needed someone to build from where Hendricks had left off after his half-century. Fledermaus did that to the hilt.

The 25-year-old came into this match with a List A high score of 20 in two outings. He showed that those numbers were not a proper representation of his abilities. He faced 57 deliveries on his way to a maiden List A half-century. He finished on 52 off 59 in a tidy innings.

Fledermaus' knock was a continuation from where Dominic Hendricks had left off. The 34-year-old arrived at the crease in the sixth over, following the dismissal of Lesego Senokwane. The seasoned campaigner is on loan from the DP World Lions for the season. He had a slow start and came into the match with a best of 29. Hendricks scored a handy 55 off 76 balls in his 26.1-over stay.

This is Hendricks' 22nd List A half-century, and his first in the Knights' kit. He faced 63 deliveries to reach the milestone. In addition, Hendricks shared a 71-run third-wicket partnership with Patrick Botha. It succeeded his 47-run second-wicket stand with Jacques Snyman.

Snyman took his time during the early part of his innings. The 30-year-old opener survived the onslaught from Aya Gqamane and Keith Dudgeon, who were hitting the right areas. The new-ball pair created chances in the powerplay, but the fielders grassed them. The pressure was rewarded with the wicket of Lesego Senokwane.

Snyman came out of his shell in the ninth over by plundering 19 runs off Dudgeon's bowling. The opener's innings was free-flowing from that point onwards. He creamed five fours and a single six on his way to 44 off 48.

It was through batting that the Knights closed the powerplay on 63 for one, the second-highest in this year's edition. The highest was 72 runs, scored when the DP World Lions and Momentum Multiply Titans went head-to-head.

The Knights enjoyed a healthy run rate during Snyman's stay in the middle and when Hendricks and Piet Botha combined to add 71 runs for the third wicket. However, Boland pulled things back through their spinners over the next five overs. Shaun von Berg took two of the three wickets that fell for 10 runs in that period. The Knights' run rate tailed off following the collapse.

Imraan Manack was the pick of the bowlers for Boland with two wickets for 35 runs in 10 overs. Shaun von Berg, Akhona Mnyaka, and Aya Gqamane also bagged a brace each, but had higher economy rates.

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

Boland: Grant Roelofsen, Blayde Cappell, Gavin Kaplan, Aviwe Mgijima, Clyde Reeves-Fortuin (capt)(wk), Shaun von Berg, Aya Gqamane, Keith Dudgeon, Imraan Manack, Akhona Mnyaka.