Lubbe fifty despite rain

Wihan Lubbe struck a captain’s half-century as the Auto Investment North West Dragons posted 144 for four against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.

The innings had been reduced to 18 overs per side with one hour being lost due to rain but not before captain Lubbe struck six boundaries and a six from 40 deliveries to top-score for the visitors with 58. Lubbe and Janneman Malan (40) added 91 for the third wicket from just 75 balls to rescue a treacherous start.

Right-arm seamer Dian Forrester (4-0-22-2)claimed the wickets of openers Rubin Harmann and Meeka-Eel Prince – both without scoring – in the first over to leave the Dragons on five for two after the first six balls. Forrester had Hermann edging behind to Gihahn Cloete with his second ball before Prince launched the ball towards Aubrey Swanepoel on the fence with his first effort.

However, despite the double-setback, Lubbe and Malan anchored the innings and looked set to kick on before the rain intervened. Lubbe needed just 37 balls for his fifty before being caught on the long on fence by Lasego Senokwane from the bowling of Malusi Siboto (4-0-46-2) while Malan, who took ages to get going, managed just one six from 46 balls before being caught on the mid-wicket fence by Swanepoel from Siboto’s bowling.

Lesiba Ngoepa, who joined Malan shortly before the rain fell, entertained the sparse crowd with three fours and a six to end unbeaten on 32 from 19 balls to lift the Dragons to a competitive score, while Duan Jansen ended on just a single from the same amount of deliveries.

TEAMS

Knights – Aaron Phangiso, Aubrey Swanepoel, Dane Piedt (c), Dian Forrester, Gerrit Snyman, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Johan van Dyk, Lesego Senokwane, Malusi Siboto, Patrick Botha, Tiaan Van Vuuren.

Auto Investments North West Dragons – Achille Cloete, Caleb Seleka, Duan Jansen, Janneman Malan, Kerwin Mungroo, Lesiba Ngoepe, Matthew Kleinveldt, Meeka-Eel Prince (wk), Migael Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Wihan Lubbe (c).