Senokwane ton fires Dragons to win over Tuskers

The North West Dragons beat the AET Tuskers (KZN Inland) by 20 runs on the DLS method in their CSA One-Day Cup match at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

Put in to bat after the Tuskers won the toss, the Dragons compiled 289 for nine in their 50 overs thanks mainly to a century from opener Lesego Senokwane who shared a second-wicket partnership of 159 with Raynard van Tonder (73)

The Tuskers had moved slowly to 127 for three in 28.2 overs in their reply when rain began falling at 3.25pm.

At the crease were opener Kagiso Rapulana, unbeaten on 59 in 85 balls, and Pite van Biljon, not out 19 in 31 balls.

The pair had added 55 in 68 balls for the fourth wicket when rain halted the match.

The only previous partnership of substance was that between Rapulana and Tian Koekemoer (34) who added 64 in 79 balls for the second wicket.

The partnership was broken by offspinner Wihan Lubbe who trapped Koekemoer leg before, repeating the feat with his next ball at the expense of new batsman Michael Erlank.

He finished with figures of 2-16 in his four overs.

CAREER BEST SCORE FOR SENOKWANE

Earlier, Dragons’ opener Senokwane struck his second List A hundred after the Tuskers won the toss and inserted the visitors under heavy skies at The Oval.

The Tuskers were rewarded with an early wicket, that of Meeka-eel Prince (13), who gloved a sharply rising delivery from left-arm paceman Mbumelelo Budaza to wicketkeeper Dilivio Ridgaard.

Thereafter, there was little for the batsmen to fear on an easy-paced pitch and Senokwane and Raynard van Tonder duly compiled a second-wicket partnership of 159 in 171 balls with the minimum of fuss, their collaboration studded with 20 boundaries.

Senokwane, who played fluently all round the wicket, eventually departed for a career-best 109 in 108 balls that included 16 fours.

Attempting to hit paceman Andile Mhletywa over the top in the 37th over, he only succeeded in lofting him to Pite van Biljon at mid-off who took a steepling catch.

Van Tonder, who struck his 11th List A half-century, departed soon afterwards for a well-played 73 (88 balls, 8x4s).

Wickets fell at regular intervals after that and the Tuskers did well to restrict the Dragons to a further 93 runs after the departure of Senokwane.

Only former Dolphins Ruan de Swardt (36 in 24 balls) and Senuran Muthusamy (20 in 18 balls) made any further significant contributions to the total.

Budaza was the most successful of the Tuskers’ bowlers taking 3-53 in his full complement of 10 overs, while Michael Erlank and Alindile Mhletywa took a brace apiece.