VKB Knights record first win in emphatic fashion

A sensational 124 off just 71 balls from Jacques Snyman helped steer the VKB Knights to their first Momentum One-Day Cup victory, beating the World Sport Betting Cobras by 3 wickets at the Kimberley Oval on Saturday, successfully chasing down the target of 258 in a reduced over match due to rain.

An opening 106-run partnership between Andries Gous, 34, and Snyman laid a solid and sound foundation for the home side veering off some excellent bowling from the visiting attack. Pick of these were Akhona Mnyaka (7-2-36-3) and Jonathan Bird (6-0-38-1).

Both sides found themselves at the bottom of the Momentum One-Day Cup log ahead of this fixture with the VKB Knights winless after four matches while the WSB Cobras managing two wins from their six games.

The match was delayed for nearly two hours after rain forced players to leave the field, resulting in a reduced 42 over match once played resumed. The Cape side posted 257/5 in their allotted 42 overs with Bird, 69, top scoring with his maiden WSB Cobras half century. Mbulelo Budaza the pick of the bowlers for the VKB Knights (8-1-45-2) with Shaun von Berg (8-0-49-1) and Obus Pienaar (7-0-31-1) chipping in.

The visitors were sent in to bat after the VKB Knights won the toss and elected to field. The WSB Cobras managed to get 194/3 after 37.1 overs before players were called off as rain came pouring down.

Zubayr Hamza and Bird recorded a third wicket partnership of 102 runs, with Hamza scoring 64 and Bird contributing 42 runs to this partnership. Hamza steadied matters alongside Bird following the quick removal of the Malan brothers.

An opening partnership of just 19 runs between brothers Janneman and Pieter Malan before Pieter was removed for failing to score any runs. Snyman taking the catch off the bowling of Budaza sending Pieter packing in the 5th over.

Captain Hamza and Janneman looked like they would steady the innings for the visitors, but Janneman soon joined his brother back in the hut. The Protea T20 batsman scored 39 before being trapped for lbw off the bowling of von Berg.

Hamza's wicket was claimed by Pienaar when the bowler removed the Protea test batsman's wickets. At this point the Cobras found themselves on 154/3 after 27 overs.

Bird's wicket was claimed almost immediately after the lengthy delay, Budaza picking up his second wicket, caught by Pienaar. Kyle Verreynne added 21 runs before the match was temporarily delayed, in the 38th over. When play resumed the Cobras wicketkeeper added a further 13 runs, taking his final innings total to 34. Verreynne lost his wicket when Raynard van Tonder and Wandile Makwetu combined to run him out.

The opening stance for the VKB Knights saw them need just over 10 overs to get their team's 100, with Snyman and Gous making it very difficult for the bowlers to find their rhythm.

The fall of Gous' wicket came in the 13th over when Mnyaka and Janneman combined, Malan taking a brilliant catch removing the Knights' opener for 34 runs. Keegan Petersen was back in the locker room in the same over, failing to score any runs, Mnyaka picking up his second wicket. Van Tonder was back in the hut in the next over, the Cobras' second duck, Bird removing Van Tonder's stumps.

Captain Makwetu, 45, lost his wicket needing just 5 runs for his half century, in the 31st over. Despite a brave fight right at the end from the visitors, it was not enough as Pienaar, 30 not out, saw the innings through and helped his side secure their first win of the Momentum One-Day Cup competition.

KNIGHTS: Andries Gous, Jacques Snyman, Keegan Petersen, Raynard van Tonder, Wandile Makwetu (c)/(w), Obus Pienaar, Patrick Kruger, Shaun von Berg, Tshepo Ntuli, Mbulelo Budaza, Ottniel Baartman

COBRAS: Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza(c), Jonathan Bird, Kyle Verreynne(w), George Linde, Aviwe Mgijima, Rory Kleinveldt, Thando Ntini, Dane Paterson, Akhona Mnyaka