Johannesburg – All-rounder Ryan McLaren shone with bat and ball as the Knights got their One-day Cup campaign off to a superb start with a crushing 91-run victory over the Warriors in Kimberley on Sunday.
Having stormed to a commanding total of 325/9, after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat, the Knights dismissed the visitors for 234 runs to bag a comfortable win.
McLaren returned 5/38 Ä his second career five-wicket haul Ä
ripping through the tail as the Warriors lost their last five wickets for only 45 runs.
Colin Ingram put on a valiant 70 runs and skipper Davy Jacobs made 58 as the Warriors desperately tried to chase down their hefty target, but McLaren dismantled the lower order to secure victory for his side.
Earlier, Reeza Hendricks and Rilee Rossouw had combined in a 66-run stand for the second wicket after Warriors paceman Andrew Birch had Knights opener Ryan Bailey caught behind in the first over of the match.
Hendricks smashed a quickfire 52 off 43 balls as the hosts took control, and after he was removed by Basheer Walters, Rossouw was joined by captain Dean Elgar in a 95-run partnership for the third wicket.
Rossouw made 56 runs and Elgar, who top scored, contributed 76
from 71 deliveries.
McLaren, who made 47, carried the middle order, and most of their batsmen contributed as the home side put up a challenging target.
Birch, who took 3/60, and Walters, who returned 3/67, put up a fight as they led the visiting side's bowling attack, but they struggled to cause consistent damage against a dominant Knights batting line-up. – Sapa