Jacques Snyman clubbed an imperious 160 to set the stage for the Knights' emphatic 74-run (DLS) victory over the DP World Lions in their CSA One-Day Challenge encounter at DP World Wanderers on Saturday.
The victory lifts the Knights into second position on the table.
Jacques Snyman's 160 leads the ITEC Knights to a 74-run victory over the DP World Lions 🔵🟡#1DayCup | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/Q3zeMc4d7E
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 1, 2025
The Lions won the toss and elected to field first.
Bjorn Fortuin, the Lions captain, made the call hoping his bowlers would utilise conditions and dominate.
The Knights answered emphatically with 292-7 in 39 overs.
The hosts had a couple of peaks as they hobbled to 220-9 in 39 overs in their chase.
SCINTILLATING SNYMAN
The Lions dominated the first seven overs of the powerplay when the Knights were batting and it ended there.
Snyman yanked control of the encounter by spanking 20 runs off Evan Jones in the eighth over.
The innings was split into segments due to rain interrupting play.
The playing conditions were amended from 50 to 39 overs a side after the forced breaks.
However, the stoppages did not have an effect on Snyman's momentum.
The opener carved 12 fours and eight sixes on his way to 160 off 118.
This is the opener's seventh List A century. He faced 80 deliveries to reach the milestone.
This is Snyman's new career-best List A score. It is also the highest individual tally this season.
He is also now the leading run-scorer in the tournament. His outstanding innings ended when he failed to execute a ramp off Codi Yusuf.
Snyman singlehandedly wrestled control from the Lions bowlers who dominated the first few overs of the powerplay and refused to cede power throughout.
He shared a record-breaking 193-run second-wicket partnership with Dominic Hendricks.
Their partnership is the highest of any wicket this season.
Hendricks, who is on loan with the Knights for the 50-over competition, scored his first half-century for the Knights in their last match.
He followed it up with a patient knock, going at a strike rate of 69.9. The seasoned campaigner was the perfect foil for Snyman's free-flowing approach.
Hendricks perished with just under nine overs to go as he heaved the ball to deep extra cover while trying to put the foot on the gas.
He scored an 83-ball 58. This is Hendricks' 23rd List A half-century and he faced 79 deliveries to reach the landmark.
KNIGHTS' BOWLERS IN CONTROL
The Lions had three peaks, unfortunately, they were not enough to secure them victory.
The first was Evan Jones's five-wicket haul. The other two were Reeza Hendricks and Mitchell van Buuren's half-centuries.
Jones made a triumphant return to the Lions' one-day squad.
The medium-pacer ran through the Knights' middle-order as he brought things back at the death.
He bagged four of the six wickets that fell between the 31st and 39th over as he finished with five wickets for 56 runs in eight overs.
Hendricks and Mitchell van Buuren shared a 101-run third-wicket partnership that consolidated but was broken just as it was about to grow wings.
Hendricks was going at a rate that ensured that the Lions didn't fall too far behind the required rate until the moment Dane Piedt got a leading edge off him to offer Lesego Senokwane an easy catch.
The Proteas star fell for a well-played 54 off 52 balls.
His erstwhile partner, Van Buuren, registered his half-century shortly afterwards.
He faced 69 balls to mark his 11th List A half-ton. He was dismissed for 54 off 73 deliveries.
Unlike the Lions, the Knights' bowlers did not cede control of the match at any point.
They bowled disciplined lines and asked the hosts to take a risk to find scoring options.
Matthew Pollard was the pick of the bowlers for the Knights with three wickets for 56 runs in eight overs.
Tiaan van Vuuren and Dane Piedt finished with a brace each.
Lions: Reeza Hendricks, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Mitchell van Buuren, Connor Esterhuizen, Richard Seletswane, Delano Potgieter, Evan Jones, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Codi Yusuf, Nqaba Peter.
Knights: Jacques Snyman, Lesego Senokwane, Dominic Hendricks (wk), Patrick Botha, Seth Fledermaus, Dian Forrester, Tiaan van Vuuren, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto, Matthew Pollard.