Huge final Sunfoil Series push needed from Dolphins:
In what is arguably one of the most exciting climaxes to a South African domestic four-day competition in many years, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins will need to secure a win against the in-form BuildNat Cape Cobras to have any chance of winning the 2016/2017 Sunfoil Series.
With the Multiply Titans needing just 91 runs to win in the second innings in their Sunfoil Series match in Pietermaritzburg this past week, a valiant effort from the Dolphins nearly saw them scoop an unlikely victory with Prenelan Subrayen being the pick of the bowlers in the Titans’ second knock with 5/35.
It was not enough as the Titans snuck home with two wickets to spare.
A casualty of that game for the Dolphins was star all-rounder Keshav Maharaj, who picked up a groin injury that forced him from the field in the Titans’ first innings. Maharaj was unable to bowl or bat in the Dolphins second innings – a big blow to the Durban-based franchise.
“Although it didn’t all go our way in Maritzburg it was great that we were able to push a top side all the way,” coach Grant Morgan said.
“With one man down with an injury, a key man, the boys should feel proud of the effort that they put in last week.”
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins go into their final round showdown knowing that a win is the only option if they are to win their first outright four-day title since the establishment of the franchise system, manufacturing that win is what Morgan has put a lot of thought into.
“We have to go into the first day with a very strong mindset whether we bat or bowl so we can gain an immediate advantage over the opposition.
“When both sides are trying to win if you can put the opposition behind the eight ball they can’t go into a defensive mindset, they also have to try and move the game forward.
“If both sides are playing good cricket the game will accelerate on the final day as both teams need to try and fabricate something to give themselves a chance at winning the game,” Morgan explained.
With the Titans and the VKB Knights in the driving seat going into this final round of fixtures, Morgan has to keep a close eye on their progress knowing that his chargers will have to pounce should they get a sniff at a title chance.
“If the Titans or the Knights win there isn’t anything we can do besides play for our highest possible position on the log.
“But if the Titans and the Knights don’t get above a certain amount of batting points and by lunch on day two we know that, we will exert pressure and hopefully know exactly what we have to do on the final day.”
Sahara Stadium Kingsmead has been a happy hunting ground for the East Coast men with an unblemished record at their home ground. Morgan believes that the way his side has gone about constructing results at home has been positive.
“We have been good at executing our plans and besides not getting over the line in Maritzburg we have done it in the previous two games we played at Kingsmead.
“The Knights were way behind the game when we lost two days to the weather and then we lost two days again against the Warriors when we had them virtually on their knees.
“I am happy with the way in which we have embraced our local conditions,” added Morgan.
With the Momentum One Day Cup around the corner the Dolphins coaching staff have taken the decision that captain Morné van Wyk will sit out the final Sunfoil Series clash with Mthokozisi Shezi also being rested with a slight hamstring niggle.
Keshav Maharaj’s groin injury has not healed and he will sit out but should be fit for the opening One Day Cup clash with the Titans on Friday, 17 February.
With the injuries to the squad, the coaching staff have added KZN Inland left-arm seamer Attie Maposa and exciting, young right-arm quick Okuhle Cele to the squad for their final four-day outing of the season.
Both players are yet to be capped at franchise level.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS SQUAD:
Okuhle Cele, Rabian Engelbrecht, Rob Frylinck, Attie Maposa, Sibonelo Makhanya, Senuran Muthusamy, Calvin Savage, Daryn Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Divan van Wyk, Khaya Zondo.
Full article here: Hollywoodbets Dolphins – DolphinsCricket
Biggest career 100 up for VVJ:
Reaching a century of appearances at first-class level is not something a lot of cricketers have achieved, but for Hollywoodbets Dolphins star Vaughn van Jaarsveld the dream finally become a reality recently.
VVJ as he is famously known on the field reached the milestone during the Sunfoil Series clash against the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Pietermaritzburg Oval.
The Johannesburg-born left hand batsman made his First-Class debut in 2004 whilst playing for Gauteng against Northerns. According to van Jaarsveld, he has evolved a lot on the field and he credits all of that to his hard work and dedication.
“My life has changed over the last 15 years of professional cricket and I have matured quite a lot,” he stated. “Playing for this wonderful franchise that is steeped in a lot of tradition and with a lot of former players who have played for the Dolphins and went on to represent the Proteas, really means a lot.”
Others may not know, but van Jaarsveld is a committed family man and attributes his success to his wife Carlynne whom he says is his biggest supporter and critic, as well as their three strong boys, as he likes to call them.
“It really means a lot to notch up 100 first-class games, at one stage in my career going back 10 years or so, I never thought I would get there as I was labelled as a ‘one-day player’ only, but with dedication and hard work we can all achieve what we put our minds to,” he added philosophically.
Van Jaarsveld said that his most memorable moment in his career was when he made his debut for the Proteas back in 2009, playing against Australia in a One Day International in Melbourne.
He is a man of many talents as he revealed that he enjoys playing golf whenever he gets the chance to. Van Jaarsveld has accumulated 6495 runs in his first-class matches with a top score of 203, which came recently when the Dolphins played the VKB Knights in Kimberley.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins captain, Morne van Wyk congratulated him and described Jaarsveld as a very dedicated player.
“I think it is fair to say that it is one of the better seasons he has ever had, so it is nice to see him grow.
“Vaughn is a quiet person who likes to keep to himself and just loves batting, you can see that when he has got a bat in his hand he is in a happy place and thoroughly enjoys smacking a couple of balls,” said van Wyk.
With the rigours of professional cricket Van Jaarsveld admits that he tries to balance his life by spending more time with his family when it is possible as they travel a lot during the season.
Van Jaarsveld is currently the leading run scorer in the Sunfoil Series having notched up an impressive 797 runs in 14 innings. He is 64 runs ahead of Khaya Zondo on the overall run scorers list.
Full article here: Hollywoodbets Dolphins – DolphinsCricket
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