The ITEC Knights got the 2023/24 domestic cricket season off to a flying start with back-to-back wins in Division 2 of the One-Day Cup.
On Saturday the Knights beat the Garden Route Badgers by 12-runs in Oudtshoorn, while on Tuesday they backed that up with a comprehensive 160-run drubbing of the Emerging South Africa team at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein.
While it is still very early days in the season, the Knights’ batting unit has been on fire with a couple of very big performances with the willow.
On Saturday, the debutant Dian Forrester smashed a blistering 128 runs and the 23-year-old allrounder backed that up with an outstanding bowling performance with 6/48, which included a very rare hat-trick. Another allrounder, Clayton Bosch, who was also on debut contributed with a fine 68* while he took 2/51 with the ball.
On Tuesday, it was the Garnett Tarr show in Bloemfontein with the 23-year-old wicketkeeper smashing a career-best 192* to almost single-handedly lead his team to a win. Tarr opened the batting with the Proteas’ Jacques Snyman, who struck 61 off 36 balls. The youngest hit 21 fours and 4 massive sixes in his innings as he carried his bat throughout the innings. Forrester chipped in with a rapid 52 runs off 28 balls.
With the ball, Snyman also impressed by taking 4/31 in 6.5 overs, while the captain Aubrey Swanepoel took 3/42 in 8 overs.
Speaking of his dream knock with the bat, Tarr, told Bloemfontein Courant that he was extremely thrilled to have been able to grab the opportunity.
“It was extremely special and I was just grateful that I got another chance after failing in Oudtshoorn,” said Tarr, who in 2018 captained St Andrews’ School to the national T20 title in Pretoria.
“Just for myself it was very nice to achieve a childhood dream and prove that I am good enough to do it at this level.
“It was very special and I’m grateful that the coaches believed in me and that they gave me the platform just to express myself. The environment has just been unbelievable and everyone just feels open to express themselves.
“I was extremely chuffed and grateful that it was my day. Days like this don’t come often and I was very happy that I was able to grab it.”
Forrester in turn told Bloemfontein Courant that never in a million years would he have thought that he would score a century and take a hat-trick on his senior provincial debut.
“I was just so happy to make my debut and never in a million years did I think I was going to score a hundred, take six wickets and a hat-trick,” said the product of Affies and Tuks.
“It’s been a mix of emotions – I think I’m just so grateful and blessed the way that it played out.
“Since I was little my mom always said that God has a plan and it showed. It was an awesome day and words just can’t describe it. It’s one of those feelings I’ll never forget and I will always treasure it.”
While the Knights got off to a strong start in Division 2 they will be seeking consistent performances throughout the season as they will fight to gain promotion back into Division 1.
On Wednesday the Knights will play in their third game when they face the Mpumalanga Rhinos at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. – MORGAN PIEK
