The ITEC Knights have set their sights on the final of the CSA Division 2 One-Day Cup following a stellar campaign to date, which saw the team from Bloemfontein winning their first five games of the competition on the bounce.
One of the most pleasing aspects for the Knights is that every player in the squad contributed to their success thus far and it has been far from a matter of banking on one or two individuals to take the team across the line.
The batters have played their part with several scoring centuries, while the bowlers themselves have been consistent.
On Sunday, the batting allrounder, Jacques Snyman, smashed 137 runs off 94 balls against the Eastern Cape Linyathi, to record back-to-back wins in the competition and he is also currently the leading run-scorer with 378 runs. The Knights wicketkeeper, Garnett Tarr, has the second most runs in the competition with 293, while the allrounder, Dian Forrester, has the third most runs with 265.
The seamer, Nipho Mpungose, has impressed with the ball lately and in two of these last three games contributed with four-wicket hauls.
The Knights coach, JP Triegaardt, told Bloemfontein Courant that one of the most pleasing aspects this season is that all of his players are playing their part and this has also led to an outstanding culture within the team.
“I’m very pleased and any coach would be to have a start like that,” said Triegaardt.
“You nailed it there by saying that in each and every game someone different contributed and won us the game. That’s what a team does.
“The most important thing is the consistency that the guys are delivering at the moment and the culture amongst the players is really good.”
The Knights are just about assured of a home final that will be played on Friday 20 October, however, they still have to finish up the round-robin games when they face Mark Charlton’s Northern Cape Heat in Bloemfontein on Sunday. This match at the Mangaung Oval is scheduled to get underway at 10:00.
*At the time of print the match between the Limpopo Impalas and Knights in Polokwane hadn’t been played. – MORGAN PIEK
