Knights bowlers maintain strong grip on the game against Dragons

The Knights maintained their grip on the match in the afternoon session on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, on Thursday. The Dragons were on 164/7 at tea.

The Dragons, who won the toss and elected to bat first have found the going hard for most of day one. They had Ruan de Swardt (34*) and Kerwin Mungroo(1*) at the crease at the interval.

Ruan de Swardt and Migael Pretorius resuscitated the visitors' innings with a 40-run seventh-wicket stand. This was the Dragons' highest partnership in the innings. It came on the back of a four-wicket collapse in the morning session and a double strike after lunch.

Johan Van Dyk enjoyed a fruitful bowling partnership with Matthew Pollard. They did not release the pressure on the opposition from either end, so much that it was easy for the Knights to convert one wicket into two. In the morning, Van Dyk took a wicket and Pollard followed that with a scalp of his own shortly afterwards. In the morning, Van Dyk dismissed Matthew Kleinveldt and Pollard accounted for Lesiba Ngoepe almost five overs later. After lunch, Van Dyk dismissed Hermann and Pollard accounted for Meeka-eel Prince almost six overs later.

Rubin Hermann's wicket was a prized one for the home side because the middle-order batter was looking comfortable in the middle more than the other Dragons batters. Hermann batted his way to an even-paced ninth first-class half-century. It took him 94 balls to reach the milestone. He had scored 56 from 104 when he was dismissed.

The Dragons needed someone to pick up from where Hermann had left off and Ruan de Swardt stepped up. The allrounder did a great rebuilding job with Migael Pretorius until there was miscommunication between the duo, which resulted in Pretorius being run out and the Dragons losing their third wicket in the session.

Matthew Pollard is enjoying his return to the Knights first eleven. He bagged two wickets for 35 runs in 14 overs. Johan van Dyk also has a brace of wickets, but conceded 31 runs in 11 overs.

Knights: Isaac Dikgale, Lesego Senokwane, Garnett Tarr, Dian Forrester, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Patrick Botha, Matthew Pollard, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto, Johannes van Dyk.

DRAGONS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Rubin Hermann, Lesiba Ngoepe, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Migael Pretorius, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete, Odirile Modimokoane