Dragons edge home against Griquas

Former Griquas offspinner Morne Strydom returned career best bowling figures of six for 23 from 19.2 overs against his former team-mates to lead the North West Dragons to a 65-run victory with just ten minutes to spare at the De Beers Oval on Monday.

Griquas lost their last eight wickets for just 30 runs as their attempt to make 245 for victory was utterly derailed on a turning pitch.

Griquas slumped from 149 for two to 179 all out, the turning point coming when Strydom had top-scorer Grant Elliott caught for 59 as he skied to Andrew Lawson at midwicket.

He went in quick succession with Pieter Koortzen at the end of a 60-run third wicket partnership that represented the high point of the innings.

Strydom caught and bowled Koortzen and then followed up with three more wickets - all from catchers camped around the bat.

Strydom's previous best bowling performance had been six for 55 for North West against Natal B in 1995-1996.

Once again it was bowler Alfonso Thomas who helped set up the win for the Dragons - with the bat.

The number ten shared a 52-run ninth wicket partnership with Ezra Poole earlier in the day that turned out to be the difference between the two sides.

The Dragons had resumed on 142 for six but lost three quick wickets to the bowling of slow left armer Craig Tatton to be reduced to 159 for eight.

Thomas - who made his maiden century in the first innings - made an undefeated 27 while Poole scored 24 before he became one of Tatton's five victims in the innings.

The left armer finished with career best figures of five for 80.

The win moves the Dragons to within one point of the Highveld Strikers having played three fewer matches.