Du Preez bowls Knights to victory

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 21, Dillon du Preez of the Chevrolet Knights during day 2 of the Sunfoil Series match between Chevrolet Knights and Nashua Titans at De Beers Diamond Oval on September 21, 2012 in Kimberley, South Africa Photo by Dirk Jacobs / Gallo Images

KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 21, Dillon du Preez of the Chevrolet Knights during day 2 of the Sunfoil Series match between Chevrolet Knights and Nashua Titans at De Beers Diamond Oval on September 21, 2012 in Kimberley, South Africa Photo by Dirk Jacobs / Gallo Images

Published Jan 13, 2013

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Johannesburg – Dillon du Preez’s 10th career five-wicket haul helped the Knights inflict more misery on defending Sunfoil Series champions the Titans with a commanding 10-wicket victory late on the final day of their clash in Benoni on Sunday.

The veteran fast bowler bagged three of the remaining seven wickets to fall on day four, to return innings figures of five for 53, as the hosts were bundled out for 181 in their second innings.

It capped a memorable all-round performance from Du Preez, who took three for 41 in the first innings and scored a second first-class hundred on Saturday.

Roelof van der Merwe top-scored for the Titans with 65 Ä his ninth career 50 Ä while there was also a half-century for Heino Kuhn, who made 51.

But their efforts were in vain as the visitors were set a paltry target of 42 to win, and Michael Erlank (25) and Gihahn Cloete (15) helped the Knights race there in just 10.2 overs as the title holders fell to a fifth loss in six games this season.

The Pretoria franchise had started the day on 24 for three, and overnight pair Henry Davids (29) and Kuhn added 63 for the fourth wicket.

Skipper Davids was trapped leg-before by Du Preez, before wicketkeeper Kuhn was dismissed after reaching this 33rd career half-century.

Du Preez added the wickets of Graeme van Buuren (one) and Van der Merwe, who added 63 for the seventh wicket with Shaun von Berg (14), as the Titans were dismissed in 70.3 overs.

The result helped the Knights leapfrog the Dolphins into fourth place with 61.92 points, while the winless Titans remained bottom of the competition log on 31.54 points.

Elsewhere, on Saturday, the Highveld Lions wrapped up a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over log leaders the Cape Cobras in Cape Town with more than a day to spare.

The victory kept the Johannesburg outfit in third place, but it ensured that the margin between themselves and the table-topping Capetonians was down to under 15 points.

The Lions moved to 71.12 points, with a game in hand over the Cobras, and were left trailing the second-placed Warriors by a little more than three points. – Sapa

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