After ending on 268 all out, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins finished day one of their 4-Day Franchise Series clash with the VKB Knights on top when they restricted the hosts to 24/2 in Kimberley on Monday.
After winning the toss and taking first strike the Dolphins were in early trouble with the loss of Vaughn van Jaarsveld for a duck and then Cody Chetty for 12.
At 13/2 Sarel Erwee and Senuran Muthusamy dug themselves in and turned the momentum in their favour. They not only scored fairly freely, but they batted time and took the Dolphins’ innings into the 44th over before Muthusamy became Tshepo Ntuli’s first wicket.
The left-handed all-rounder scored 62 from 111 deliveries and put on a positive 113 for the third wicket with Erwee.
Erwee, who was unavailable for selection for the opening game of the season, also batted himself into some form when he notched up a patient 68, before he was caught off the bowling of Ntuli as well.
The Dolphins continued on their way with Dane Vilas and Sibs Makhanya putting on a partnership of 41 before the latter was caught behind off Ryan Maclaren for 18.
Vilas then moved to 38 in his first innings for the Dolphins since his return from the UK. He and Calvin Savage added 33 for the sixth wicket and when Vilas was dismissed the Dolphins were 224/6.
Savage, who has some form behind him after he scored 68 last week, continued in that vein with 38 before he was caught behind.
Eathan Bosch and Keshav Maharaj both added 11 runs each right at the end of the innings as the Dolphins were bowled out for 268.
In reply the Dolphins bowlers started well with both openers picking up a wicket each in the first three overs of the innings.
Eathan Bosch picked up the first when he had Luthando Mnyanda caught behind for a single. Kerwin Mungroo followed that up an over later when he had Tshepo Ntuli caught by Calvin Savage for one.
The stumps were drawn at the Diamond Oval with the hosts 24/2, Grant Mokoena is 12 not out and Keegan Petersen 10 not out.
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