Hermann, Pretorius help Dragons crush Rocks

Rubin Hermann battered the Gbets Rocks for an unbeaten 96 in 56 balls as he led the Auto Investment North West Dragons to a seven-wicket victory in their CSA T20 Challenge match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

Earlier, Dragons’ pace bowler Migael Pretorius claimed a career-best 4-14 to restrict the Rocks to 146 for six after the Dragons had won the toss and inserted the visitors.

The left-handed Hermann is in splendid form in this competition, having struck his first T20 century in just 54 balls against the AET Tuskers at the same venue last week.

He ended the match in spectacular style, striking offspinner Michael Copeland for 6,4,2,6,6 in the 17th over to help his team reach 148 for three in 16.5 overs.

It was the Dragons’ second win in the competition, and the Rocks’ fifth consecutive defeat.

Hermann dominated the run chase as he and Meeka-eel Prince (13) added 49 for the opening wicket and 46 with Wihan Lubbe (23) for the third wicket.

Last batter Lesiba Ngoepe was virtually an onlooker as Hermann finished the job. Altogether he struck nine fours and five sixes in his brilliant innings.

The only Rocks’ bowler to impress was tall offspinner Imraan Manack who claimed  2-17 in his four overs, commanding the respect of all the batters, including Hermann.

Rubin Herman's purple patch continues as he hits an unbeaten 9️⃣6️⃣ off 5️⃣6️⃣ balls to lead the Auto Investment Dragons to a commanding 7-wicket victory against the winless Gbets Rocks 🏏#CSAT20Challenge | #WwozaNawe | #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/DDASbMOtPN

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 21, 2024

PRETORIUS ON FIRE

Earlier, Pretorius’s impressive burst up front helped reduce the Rocks to 34 for four in the power play and 39 for five shortly afterwards after the Rocks had batted in cloudy conditions.

But after he and skipper Senuran Muthusamy had bowled their quota of overs, a ragged effort by the other bowlers and an undefeated half-century by Ferisco Adams with assistance from Hardus Viljoen in particular enabled the Rocks to make a decent recovery.

Pretorius was on fire from his first delivery that nipped between bat and pad to remove the leg stump of Clyde Fortuin.

Kerwin Mungroo then got rid of the always-dangerous Janneman Malan who miscued him to extra-cover before Pretorius had Christian Jonker caught behind by wicketkeeper Hermann, the first of his three catches.

Michael Copeland edged behind for Pretorius’s third wicket but his final scalp was the most memorable with opener Adrian du Toit brilliantly caught on the square leg boundary by a diving Prince.

Prolific Pretorius 🕺

Migael Pretorius has been on 🔥🔥🔥for the @NW_Cricket with ball in hand 🐉#WozaNawe #BePartOfit #CSAT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/UbGLN0pxgm

— CSA Domestic Leagues (@DomesticCSA) March 21, 2024

The quality of the home team’s cricket deteriorated markedly after that, however, with Duan Jansen bowling four wides in one of his overs Shaun von Berg took advantage to help Adams add 38 for the sixth wicket with the allrounder going on to strike an unbeaten 50 in 39 balls – his second in the format – as he and Viljoen added 69 to take the visitors to a total well beyond their apparent prospects earlier in the innings.

NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Rubin Hermann, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe, Lesiba Ngoepe, Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Duan Jansen, Migael Pretorius, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo

GBETS ROCKS: Clyde Fortuin (wk), Adrian du Toit, Janneman Malan, Christiaan Jonker, Michael Copeland, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Hardus Viljoen, Imran Manack, Siyabonga Mahima, Akhona Mnyaka