Bird, Hendricks demolish Dragons

by CS Chiwanza

Jonathan Bird scored an impressive half-century that laid the foundation for Six Gun Grill Western Province to post a competitive total of 164 for eight before restricting North West Dragons to 80 all out, the lowest score in this year's CSA T20 Challenge.

Western Province marched to a 84-run victory in their CSA T20 Challenge match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon.

Western Province also earned the bonus point by dismissing North West Dragons for less than 131 runs.

Bird's 53 runs provided Western Province with the perfect launch pad in the later part of the innings, despite losing six wickets for 25 runs.

Western Province were on 109 for two when Dane Vilas (31) attempted a paddle shot that led to his dismissal. The wheels came off at that point as Western Province went from 109 for two to 134 for eight.

Wayne Parnell's 33 off 17, the majority of which came in the last two overs, rocketed Western Province to a respectable total. Parnell scored 20 runs off Nono Pongolo in the 19th over.

North West Dragons, who have been impressive in the tournament so, far barely got going. Wesley Marshall (15) lost partners in quick succession, before he joined his teammates in the dugout, as Beuran Hendricks and Parnell took five wickets in the PowerPlay.

North West Dragons have lost the most wickets, five, in the PowerPlay so far in the competition.

Hendricks accounted for the Dragons' top order, with the exception of Nicky van den Bergh, whose wicket was taken by Parnell. Parnell was involved in one of Hendricks's four wickets, taking a spectacular diving catch as Hendricks accounted for Delano Potgieter.

Hendricks matched Senuran Muthusamy's incredible figures of 4-20. Hendricks is also the CSA T20 Challenge's leading wicket-taker with nine wickets from four matches.

The Dragons' rebuilding effort, with the last two recognised batters Dwaine Pretorius (14) and Lesego Senokwane (6), crumbled when Pretorius was trapped lbw by Junaid Dawood. Pretorius was dismissed for 14 off 20. The Dragons' highest partnership was between Seleka (16) and Diseko (12 not out). The tailenders managed 24 runs from 26 balls.

Hendricks was ably supported by Junaid Dawood, who took three wickets in four balls.

NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Wesley Marshall, Senuran Muthusamy, Dwaine Pretorius, Nicky van den Bergh (capt & wk), Delano Potgieter, Lesego Senokwane, Taheer Isaacs, Nono Pongolo, Duan Jansen, Caleb Seleka, Johannes Diseko

SIX GUN GRILL WESTERN PROVINCE: Jonathan Bird, Gavin Kaplan, Tony de Zorzi, Dane Vilas (wk), Yaseen Vallie, Aviwe Mgijima, Wayne Parnell (capt), Mihlali Mpongwana, Beuran Hendricks, Junaid Dawood, Basheeru-Deen Walters