Senokwane ton elevates North West

Lesego Senokwane’s fourth First Class century helped North West Dragons reach 319 for six at stumps on day one of their CSA 4-Day Challenge match against the Dafabet Warriors at the JB Marks Oval on Saturday.

Senokwane’s ton came off 192 deliveries and featured 15 fours.

The 26-year-old was the mainstay for the home side as he shared two partnerships worth a combined 160 runs with Grant Mokoena and Raynard van Tonder.

His opening partner, Mokoena, had a start but failed to kick on. The 36-year-old batter looked good for his 27 off 57 before Nealan van Heerden dismissed him in the 18th over.

Mokoena’s replacement, Van Tonder showed the home crowd the quality of cricket they can look forward to from him this season.

Van Tonder was one of the Dragons’ new additions this season. He signed from the Knights.

The 25-year-old No 3 batter scored a well-played 53 off 108 balls before he edged a Siya Plaatjie delivery to Sinethemba Qeshile for a comfortable catch.

MUTHUSAMY HALF CENTURY

Dragons’ new captain Wihan Lubbe played with intent, racing to a 58-ball 42 before he fell to Alfred Mothoa’s medium pacers.

Lubbe’s wicket was the beginning of a North West middle-order collapse at the hands of Mothoa, who bagged three wickets in 10 deliveries.

The Dragons went from 238 for three after 72 overs to 245 for six after 75 overs.

The 33-year-old also accounted for Ruan de Swardt (1) and Meeka-eel Prince (0).

Just when it looked like all was lost, Suneran Muthusamy and Migael Pretorius stabilised the North West’s innings with an unbeaten 74-run partnership that saw them to stumps.

During the course of the partnership, Muthusamy reached his 27th First Class half-century.

Alfred Mothoa was the Warriors’ most successful bowler with three wickets for 43 runs in 16.3 overs.

Bayers Swanepoel, Nealan van Heerden and Siya Plaatjie took a wicket each.

North West: Lesego Senokwane, Grant Mokoena, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (c), Suneran Muthusamy, Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince, Migael Pretorius, Duan Jansen, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo

Warriors: Jordan Hermann, Diego Rosier, Matthew Breetzke (c), Nealan van Heerden, Bayers Swanepoel, Patrick Kruger, Rudi Second, Tristan Stubbs, Alfred Mothoa, Sinethemba Qeshile, Siya Plaatjie