The ITEC Knights completed a tense victory in another low-scoring blockbuster against the Imperial Lions, registering their first win of the tournament.

Wiaan Mulder scored a century – his first-ever in 50-over cricket – but it was in vain, as Farhaan Behardien’s composed 86 and an all-round masterclass from Gerald Coetzee with a quickfire 54 from 44 at No 8 helped overcome a slow start and take the game deep. 

Despite a couple of late hiccups, the Knights made it over the line on the penultimate ball of the chase.

Lions 240/6 in 50 overs (Mulder 108 – Coetzee 10-1-40-3)

Knights 241/9 in 49.5 overs (Behardien 86, Coetzee 54 – Ntuli 10-0-34-3)

Nervous chases continued to be the trend of the One Day Cup, as Western Province sealed the deal against the Gbets Warriors at Newlands.

The Warriors folded for 173, with Tshepo Moreki starring for WP with a superb 4-wicket haul.

However, the chase was anything but easy, with the Warriors seam trio taking five early wickets in the first 12 overs. Half-centuries from Daniel Smith and Mihlali Mpongwana reduced the stress and brought the innings back on track. 

The 89-run partnership was crucial. Two more wickets may have caused momentary panic, but Mpongwana batted through and got the support he badly needed from the other end.

Warriors 173 in 48.5 overs (van Vuuren 47 – Moreki 10-1-44-4)
WP 175/7 in 42.3 overs (Mpongwana 61*, D Smith 50 – van Vuuren 10-0-35-3)

Finally, inclement weather forced a washout in the game between the Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the Gbets Rocks at Kingsmead.

Stiaan van Zyl scored a solid ton at the top of the order, but the Dolphins’ bowling was in command, as no other batter scored above 30. Seamers Eathan Bosch and Ottniel Baartman shared 7 wickets between them, spearheading a clinical effort to bowl out the Rocks for 202.

Unfortunately, rain arrived after 8 overs into the chase, leaving the match incomplete.

Rocks 202 in 47.4 overs (van Zyl 109 – Bosch 9-0-37-4, Baartman 10-1-28-3)
Dolphins 25/0 in 8.1 overs