Day 3: Senokwane slays Dragons as Knights take control

Lesego Senokwane recorded his career-best first-class score as he batted the Knights into a position of strength in their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons at Mangaung Oval on Saturday. 

At stumps, the Dragons were on 112-3, still trailing the Knights by seven runs with seven wickets in hand. 

The Dragons, who won the toss and elected to bat first, scored 232-9d in their first innings.

Senokwane brilliantly led the Knights to 350 in their reply with a magnificent double hundred.

The umpires were forced to end the day's play immediately after tea due to bad light.

The visitors had Raynard van Tonder (31*) and Wihan Lubbe (29*) at the crease at the interval.

Senokwane scored an imperious 205 off 264 deliveries as he singlehandedly fought to put his side in a strong position. 

His score accounted for 58.6 per cent of the Knights' total. He faced 260 balls to reach the milestone, which he did in style.

Senokwane smashed a booming six to reach 200 runs. The Knights opener was more attacking after he passed the 100-run mark. 

The 27-year-old faced 193 deliveries to get to his century and faced only 67 balls to go from 100 to 200.

Senokwane shared a 130-run ninth-wicket partnership with Malusi Siboto.

He farmed the strike and did most of the scoring during their time together in the middle.

His partner, Siboto, only contributed 25 runs to their stand. After his dismissal, Siboto and Johan van Dyk added 33 runs to the total.

Migael Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers for the Dragons. 

The 29-year-old registered his ninth first-class four-wicket haul, finishing the innings with four wickets for 85 runs in 26 overs.

Kerwin Mungroo bowled well for his three wickets for 83 runs 19.5 overs.

FALSE START FOR DRAGONS IN SECOND INNINGS

The Dragons' second dig did not start positively. They were barely seven overs into their second innings when they lost their first wicket.

Matthew Pollard bagged his third wicket of the match when he dismissed Matthew Kleinveldt immediately after lunch. 

The 24-year-old got the breakthrough on the fourth delivery of the first over after lunch.

Van Tonder and Lesiba Ngoepe added 42 runs for the third wicket in 13.5 overs.

That partnership crumbled when the Knights' leading wicket-taker in the innings, Siboto, struck again. 

The experienced seamer dismissed Ngoepe for 31 off 69 to push the visitors onto the back foot.

Siboto was the pick of the bowlers for the Knights in Dragons' second innings with two wickets for 22 runs in nine overs.

Pollard, the other wicket-taker, has a single wicket for 19 runs in eight 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