Dillon du Preez starred with both bat and ball as the Knights beat the Warriors by five runs at the Diamond Oval on Wednesday evening to edge closer to the RAM SLAM T20 play-off berths.
Du Preez hit two sixes and two fours at the end of the Knights innings to boost their total to 145 for six, then claimed figures of 2 for 17 from three overs as the Warriors were restricted to 140 for six in reply.
The victory moved the Knights on to 12 points from seven matches and, although it didn’t shift them up in the standings, they are now in reach of the teams above them.
While Du Preez added crucial late runs, the Knights innings was also indebted to Rilee Rossouw, who hit a run-a-ball 64 to keep the score ticking over even as wickets fell regularly at the other end.
Wayne Parnell and Jon-Jon Smuts both conceded less than a run a ball as the rest of the Knights batters struggled to get going.
The Warriors reply was dented by Du Preez’s dismissal of Ashwell Prince in the first over, but Smuts’ 44 appeared to have kept them on track.
The key moment arrived in the 13th over with the Warriors well set on 84 for three, when Smuts was caught off the bowling of Du Preez.
With the Warriors lower order unable to make a serious contribution, the game ran away from them as Malusi Siboto (1 for 24) and Ryan McLaren (2 for 29) finished well.
With the Dolphins beating the Highveld Lions at Sahara Kingsmead, the Warriors dropped to third position on the table.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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