Dolphins make it six wins from seven in the MODC:
Durban – A sixth win from seven matches in the Momentum One Day Cup for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins sees the Durban side extend their lead at the top of the table after they beat the Momentum Multiply Titans by 35 runs at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Thursday.
For consecutive fixtures the Dolphins got off to a strong start with the openers Grant Roelofsen and Sarel Erwee putting on 67 for the first wicket in just over fourteen overs at the start of the innings.
The wicket did seem to be on the slower side and Roelofsen paid the price when he seemed to hit one right off the toe of the bat to the fielder at midwicket for what was a fluent 41 from 42 deliveries.
Erwee was far more conservative in his approach and played a measured innings as he went past fifty for the second time in the consecutive innings following a well-played hundred over the weekend.
He and Marques Ackerman put together a partnership of 72 before he was caught by Alfred Mathoa off the bowling of spinner Aiden Markram for 68 from 85 balls. The Dolphins had moved to 139 for two in the 28th over of the innings.
Just nine runs later and the Titans had their third when Ackerman was bowled by Markram for 31.
The home side then looked threatening as Senuran Muthusamy and Khaya Zondo put together 27 together before the former became Markram’s third victim, caught by the captain Grant Thomson for twenty.
At 175 for four in the 38th over the Dolphins might have been worried that they weren’t going to post anything competitive, however Zondo and Sibz Makhanya combined to produce a destructive partnership.
Their stand was worth 112 from eleven overs and one ball with Zondo scoring 60 off just 52 deliveries. His knock consisted of six boundaries as the Dolphins pushed towards 300.
Makhanya was at his destructive best as he notched up sixty off just forty balls with three fours and four sixes.
Makhanya fell in the 49th over of the innings which left Rob Frylinck three balls from which he hit two sixes as the Dolphins posted 308 for six in their fifty overs.
It was another admiral display with the ball from the Dolphins as they squeezed the Titans potent batting line-up with only Tony de Zorzi and Rivaldo Moonsamy managing to get past the fifty run mark.
Aiden Markram showed a positive return to cricket as he made 36 before he was stumped off the bowling of Kesha Maharaj.
Rob Frylinck, Okuhle Cele and Daryn Dupavillon led the attack with their seam bowling and all three were amongst the wickets.
Frylinck picked up the wicket of Diego Rossier early for ten while Cele outfoxed Grant Thomson with a slower ball when he was looking dangerous on 27.
Dupavillon’s wicket was the vital scalp of Dean Elgar for twenty off 31 balls when he was preparing to shift into the next gear.
Prenelan Subrayen accounted for the dangerous Ferhaan Behardien for nine and the Dolphins had their foot on the throat of the visitors.
De Zorzi and Moonsamy put on 77 from 73 balls to give the Titans a glimmer of hope towards the back end of the innings, however when De Zorzi fell to a good catch by Erwee off the bowling of Frylinck for 54 their hopes were all but dashed.
Moonsamy then showed some fight at the death however he lost partners at the other end as the Dolphins hunted down a six win of the competition.
Moonsamy went to fifty in the penultimate over of the chase but Mothoa was the final wicket to fall with the score on 259.
Man of the Match Khaya Zondo was pleased with his personal performance as well as that of the team as they are all but guaranteed a play-off spot.
“The team has been good on the whole for most of the tournament,” Zondo said. “There are a few guys that we need to get into a confident mind set so that if we are in a tough position in one of the upcoming games they can come to the party and play a match winning role.
“From a performance perspective we have put together two clinical performances in a row now, one against the Warriors and now doing the double against the Titans.”
The Dolphins have a week break until they take on the Imperial Lions at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Thursday, 5 March.
Follow the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinsCricket/
Twitter: @DolphinsCricket
Instagram: @DolphinsCricket
The post Dolphins make it six wins from seven in the MODC appeared first on Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
Dolphins out to consolidate MODC top spot:
Durban – With five wins from six games in the Momentum One Day Cup to date, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins will be hoping to continue their log-leading form when they take on the Momentum Multiply Titans at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Thursday.
It’s been a dominant campaign from the Dolphins so far who are well clear at the top of the log at the moment, however the Imperial Lions are two wins away from catching them, with two games in hand, so the Dolphins need make sure they keep their focus.
The Titans would have been disappointed in their loss to the Dolphins earlier in the competition as Grant Roelofsen scored a match-winning 147 not out to help his side to a memorable win.
Captain Keshav Maharaj, who has been selected for the Standard Bank Proteas squad for the ODI series against Australia, has been one of the stand-out players during the competition and is currently tied at the top of the wicket-takers chart with thirteen wickets.
He has led the side well in the tournament and he believes that they are not looking too far ahead of themselves.
“We aren’t feeling too much pressure because we just keep reminding ourselves to take it game by game,” Maharaj said.
“It’s more of a confidence booster being top of the log going forward in the competition.
“With the Titans coming up next they have a strong batting line-up with a lot of experience which is probably the aspect of their game that is the most dangerous.”
Maharaj has bowled consistently well throughout the tournament and has played a number of crucial knocks down the order. The captain is satisfied with how the competition has panned out so far.
“I am happy to be contributing towards the teams results at the moment and I am happy that I am reaping some rewards from the hard work that I have put in.
“Helping the team out is the main thing for me and I want everyone to be putting in match-winning performances every game and if we can do that then we will be in a good position.
“We have a squad of match-winners which means that at any given time guys can put their hands up and get us over the line.”
The match at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium starts at 13:30.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS SQUAD
Keshav Maharaj, Lwandiswa Zuma, Okuhle Cele, Cody Chetty, Prenelan Subrayen, Khaya Zondo, Sibonelo Makhanya, Grant Roelofsen, Sarel Erwee, Robert Frylinck, Daryn Dupavillon, Senuran Muthusamy, Marques Ackerman.
Follow the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinsCricket/
Twitter: @DolphinsCricket
Instagram: @DolphinsCricket
The post Dolphins out to consolidate MODC top spot appeared first on Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
Fill in the form below to have your blog featured on MyDurban – we will post a snippet and title link to your new blog posts.
Submit and get free press releases here: MyPR Free Press Release | Meet the Durban Bloggers.
