A second successive unbeaten century from Dian Forrester guided the Free State Knights to their first win of the One-Day Cup season on Saturday.
The Knights demolished Western Province by 157 runs in Bloemfontein, while Boland beat the EP Warriors by three wickets in Gqeberha.
All-rounder Forrester was the star at the Mangaung Oval where 311-6 played 154 all out.
The 24-year-old, who struck 123* in the Knights’ rained-out affair against the Warriors in midweek, blasted 113* off 99 balls (four fours, five sixes) this time around to bolster his side to a formidable total after winning the toss and batting. He now has 257 run in three in innings.
There were also significant contributions by Patrick Botha (43), Malusi Siboto (40) and Tiaan Van Vuuren, who smashed four sixes in an 18-ball unbeaten 41.
The latter then claimed 3-16 in 5.4 overs to help the hosts blow away the defending champions in 34.4 overs.
George Linde (37) and Kyle Simmonds (35*) were the only two batsmen to cross the 30 mark – Province slumping to their second loss in three in the process.
Meanwhile, at St George’s Park, spinners Imran Manack and Shaun von Berg played key roles with the bat to help Boland chase down 198 with 11 balls to spare.
After winning the toss and bowling, the visiting bowlers responded well by limiting their hosts to under 200 in 43.4 overs.
Ayabulela Gqamane was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24, while there were doubles for Manack (2-48), Lehan Botha (2-28) and Akhona Mnyaka (2-32).
Boland then found themselves in huge trouble at 103-6 and then 128-7 as Alfred Mothoa (3-34) and Senuran Muthusamy (2-35) offered excellent control with the ball.
However, Von Berg (49*) and Manack (37*) combined for an unbroken 73-run eighth wicket stand that sealed the win.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
