The Hollywoodbets Dolphins dismantled the WSB Cape Cobras by 49 runs on Wednesday at PPC Newlands, to book themselves a spot in the Momentum One Day Cup final at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday against the Warriors. A splendid all-round bowling performance from the Dolphins after they set the hosts a modest 231 runs to win the game, meant that the men from Cape Town battled to get a vital partnership together in their chase.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 31: Morne van Wyk of the Dolphins and Dane Vilas of the Dolphins are congratulated for running out Kyle Verreynne of the Cape Cobras during the Momentum One-Day Cup, Semi Final match between WSB Cape Cobras and Hollywoodbets Dolphins at PPC Newlands on January 31, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)
The Dolphins were put into bat on Wednesday evening with a spot in a home final on the line, and openers Morné van Wyk and Sarel Erwee couldn’t have given their side a better start to the innings.
Their opening partnership has become formidable through this season’s Momentum One Day Cup and they put together 126 for the first wicket before Van Wyk chopped on a delivery from George Linde for 62 from 72 balls.
From there the Dolphins dug themselves into a fairly deep pit when Vaughn van Jaarsveld was run out for seven and Dane Vilas followed soon after for a duck.
It got worse for the men from Durban as Sibz Makhanya was the next man to fall to a spectacular slip catch from Aviwe Mgijima for eight and the Dolphins were 148/4 in the 30th over of their innings. They had lost four crucial wickets for 22 runs.
Erwee found a partner in Senuran Muthusamy and the duo put on 43 runs before Muthusamy holed out to deep square-leg for 20.
It was Erwee who continued to hold the innings together until he fell, after captain Keshav Maharaj came and went, when he was caught by keeper Kyle Verreynne off a Mthiwekhaya Nabe delivery for a solid 93 from 135 deliveries.
With the total on 214/7 the Dolphins, Rob Frylinck’s run-a-ball 14 helped his side to 230 all out.
Mthokozisi Shezi and Frylinck were accurate with the new ball reduced the Cobras to just 21/3 after the first nine overs.
Frylinck picked up the first wicket when trapped the in-form Pieter Malan in front for four. Shezi then got in on the act dismissing Simon Khomari for two.
Verreynne was then run out two overs later for six before opener Zubary Hamza and Veron Philander started to build a partnership.
Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen then came in and picked up both the wickets of Philander (26) and Hamza (26) in the same over.
After 18 overs the Cobras were 57/5, still needing 174 runs to win.
Dane Piedt and George Linde (19) and then Dane Paterson gave the Capetonians a glimmer of hope when they took their side to with 60 runs of victory.
Piedt put together his best Momentum One Day Cup score as his 57 gave the Cobras a slight sniff but when he went with the score 175 with only one wicket left to get for the Dolphins.
A great catch from Dane to dismiss Paterson for 29 off Shezi sewed up the Cobras innings for 181 in the 47th over.
The Dolphins spinners Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy were instrumental when they both picked up two wickets.
Mthokozisi Shezi was also in the wickets when he grabbed two; however Rob Frylinck was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/21 in nine overs.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins host the Warriors at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on the Momentum One Day Cup final on Friday. The match starts at 13:30, tickets can be purchased at ticketpro.co.za
Dolphins eyeing second white ball final this season:
Durban – The Hollywoodbets Dolphins will tackle the WSB Cape Cobras for the second time in a semi-final this season when they take on the Cape Town outfit at PPC Newlands in the Momentum One Day Cup play-off on Wednesday.There have been a number of changes to the personal for the Dolphins going into this must-win clash. Along with the experienced Imran Tahir, the Dolphins will also lose captain Khaya Zondo as the pair join the Proteas squad ahead of their ODI series against India starting on Thursday.
Despite these losses Morgan knows that he has the player pool to choose from that can get the job done. Another positive that he can draw on is the return of Keshav Maharaj to the side. “We have got guys there that have performed throughout the season. We’ve got Sibz Makhanya back in the mix as well as Vaughn (van Jaarsveld) from injury. “Keshav led the team on the field in the last game against the Titans because we knew that Khaya would be unavailable so he will take on the captaincy role,” Morgan said.
Morgan has been hounded with team selection headaches throughout the campaign, a problem that he is not complaining about. With the squad slightly thinner this week he is glad he can call on players that have been involved during the campaign.“The nice thing about the Momentum One Day Cup this season is that we have had to leave out players who have done well. “Calvin Savage and Athi Maposa have done well for us and we have had to leave them out of the side at stages.“It’s great to welcome someone like Keshav back but it’s hard to leave someone out, but we are in a good space,” the coach commented.
The men from Durban have been involved in a number of games against the Cobras in white ball cricket this season, with the Dolphins coming out on top on three of the five occasions with the other two being rained out.This will be the sixth match between the sides in limited overs cricket but will be the first time they have clashed at Newlands. Morgan believes that his side will have to make more of an adjustment to the conditions than the hosts.
“I would be surprised if they gave us a wicket that turns – we know that Newlands doesn’t generally do that,” Morgan explained.“No matter what, we will back our template and we back our balance in our side because if it comes to that we can pick four guys that can bowl seam up.“I’m sure that we will get a good solid Newlands deck and we’ll just have to take it from there.”The Momentum One Day Cup semi-final at PPC Newlands gets underway at 13:30 on Wednesday with a spot in the final against either the Multiply Titans or the Warriors up for grabs on Friday, 2 February.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS SQUAD:
Sarel Erwee, Kehsav Maharaj (c), Senuran Muthusamy, Sibonelo Makhanya, Calvin Savage, Robert Frylinck, Athi Maposa, Zack Paruk, Prenelan Subrayen, Morné van Wyk, Dane Vilas, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Mthokozisi Shezi, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
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