Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ maiden List A century helped the Northerns Titans secure their first win of the One-Day Cup season, while there were also victories for the EP Warriors, KZN Dolphins and Free State Knights on Wednesday.
Eighteen-year-old Pretorius – who starred for the Paarl Royals in the recent SA20 – blasted a 96-ball 120, which included seven sixes and 11 fours, in a 41-run win against defending champions Western Province at Newlands.
Important knocks from Keegan Petersen (48), Dewald Brevis (42) and Dayyaan Galiem (48*) also lifted the visitors to an imposing 337-7.
Despite the sizable total, Jody Lawrence impressed with the ball for WP with 3-44.
Half-centuries by Valentine Kitme 87 off 94 balls (nine fours, two sixes), David Bedingham (69 off 64 balls; six fours, one six) and Kyle Verreynne (55 off 49 balls; five fours) provided Province with a sound backbone for the chase.
The hosts got to 239-4 at one stage, but Matthew Boast (5-38) played a telling role to help dismiss the opposition for 296.
Meanwhile in Durban, the Dolphins overcame the Central Gauteng Lions by six wickets in a rain-reduced affair at Kingsmead.
Delano Potgieter top-scored for the visitors with 56* off 54 balls (five fours, one six) in a total of 183-9 in 43 overs that came after their opponents won the toss and fielded.
Spinner Prenelan Subrayen was the best of the bowlers with 4-46.
In reply, Bryce Parsons (81* off 94 balls; six fours, one six) led the way, together with 52 off 57 balls (three fours, two sixes) by Jon-Jon Smuts, as the hosts eased to their target with 3.1 overs to spare.
Victories for the Dolphins and Titans were their first of the season, while Boland suffered their first defeat when they went down to the Free State Knights by 21 runs in Bloemfontein.
The visitors, who won three from three before Wednesday’s encounter, bowled first after losing the toss with the hosts bowled out for 249.
Dominic Hendricks (55 off 76 balls; one four, one six) and Seth Fledermaus (52 off 59 balls; two fours) hit half-centuries, while Akhona Mnyaka and Imran Manack both bagged 2-35.
There were plenty of starts in the chase but no one managed to kick on for Boland – something that proved key. Michael Copeland’s 45 was their best effort as Tiaan van Vuuren grabbed 4-39.
In the end the Knights restricted them to 228-9.
Finally, in Potchefstroom, the Warriors were 121-run winners over the North West Dragons.
Senuran Muthusamy (93 off 82 balls; six fours, three sixes) and Andile Mogakane (58 off 62 balls; seven fours, two sixes) top-scored for the visitors as they posted 278-8.
The Dragons’ reply was a poor one as they fell for 157 in just over 40 overs.
Jason Raubenheimer proved the most successful bowler in a fine all-round effort with the ball by collecting 3-34.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
