Day 1: Dragons grab control from the Knights late on day one

Rubin Hermann and Ruan de Swardt scored fighting half-centuries as they helped the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons to a first-innings total of 232 for nine declared on the first day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Knights at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, on Thursday.

In reply, the Knights were on 32 for two at the close of play. The hosts trail by 200 runs with eight wickets in hand. They had Dian Forrester (8*) and Lesego Senokwane (5*) at the crease.

Forrester and Senokwane were in the middle at the close of play thanks to some brilliant bowling from Kerwin Mungroo and Migael Pretorius. The new-ball bowlers cleaned up Isaac Dikgale and Garnett Tarr within 18 deliveries of each other. The two wickets transferred control of the contest, which had been in the hands of the hosts for most of the day, to the visitors.

The Dragons, who won the toss and elected to bat first, did not have a great outing in the middle. They lost a flurry of wickets in the first session of play. They crumbled to 64 for four in 23.1 overs. Through that period, Rubin Hermann shared the crease with four different batters and 24 runs was the highest his partnerships went.

The 27-year-old batted his way to an even-paced ninth first-class half-century. It took him 94 balls to reach the milestone. He had scored 56 from 104 when he was dismissed. After his dismissal, someone had to raise their hand to take control of the innings. That person was Ruan de Swardt.

The allrounder registered an unbeaten century last week as he helped his side secure a draw against the Dafabet Warriors. He followed it up with a second half-ton in two weeks.

His 67 off 152 is what the visitors needed to help them cross the 200-run mark. He shared a promising 40-run seventh-wicket with Migael Pretorius that disastrously crumbled when the pair miscommunicated and it resulted in a runout.

Last week, De Swardt shared two brilliant partnerships with Kerwin Mungroo, and they followed that up with a 67-run eighth-wicket stand. Mungroo was unbeaten on 36 when the Dragons declared.

Malusi Siboto, Matthew Pollard and Johan van Dyk all took a brace of wickets each for the Knights. However, Pollard, who conceded 36 runs in 15 overs, had the best economy and was the pick of their bowlers.

KNIGHTS:  Isaac Dikgale, Lesego Senokwane, Garnett Tarr, Dian Forrester, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Patrick Botha, Matthew Pollard, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto, Johannes van Dyk.

DRAGONS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Rubin Hermann, Lesiba Ngoepe, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Migael Pretorius, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete, Odirile Modimokoane