Another to-and-fro day of Sunfoil Series cricket saw neither the Hollywoodbets Dolphins or the WSB Cape Cobras take the initiative on day two of their clash at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn on Tuesday.
Looking to wipe out the 327 run discrepancy, the best opportunity to exert dominance, arguably, fell to the home side when they were 200/3, however the dogged Dolphins attitude, that they have established in recent times, saw them restrict the hosts to 284/6, with a deficit of 43 runs at the close of play.
The Dolphins continued their innings at the start of day two and Dane Vilas continued from where he left off going past 150 crucial runs for his franchise.
Keith Dudgeon fell early on the second day for 5 when he became Vernon Philander’s fourth victim and number 11 Kerwin Mungroo hung around with Vilas until the latter was dismissed, LBW to Mthiwekhaya Nabe, for 161.
Vilas’ telling contribution took his side to a respectable 327 all out.
The Cobras got off to a positive start against the inexperienced Mungroo and Dudgeon before Mungroo accounted for the wicket of Simon Khomari, LBW for 10. The score was 28/1 in just over six overs at the loss of their first wicket.
Zubayr Hamza joined the positive Pieter Malan at the wicket at first drop and the pair steadily built a strong partnership that threatened to tilt the game in the hosts’ favour.
The duo put on 92 runs for the second wicket before Calvin Savage got into the wickets column, seeing the end of Malan, caught by Dudgeon for 56.
Another partnership blossomed when Justin Ontong joined Hamza and the two added another 80 runs to the total before Hamza’s departure for 88, caught and bowled by Senuran Muthusamy. The Cobras were 200/3 and trailing the Dolphins by 127 when the in-form Aviwe Mgijima strode to the wicket.
The scoreboard had ticked along to 232/4 before a double strike for the Dolphins saw the end of Ontong, LBW to Sibz Makhanya for 49, and then Mgijima, bowled by Mungroo for 24, saw the men from the Cape stumble to 234/6.
Day three will see Vernon Philander resume his innings on 18 while Kyle Verreynne will begin on 19, with their partnership currently at 34 runs.
The young Kerwin Mungroo was the pick of the Dolphins bowlers on the second day as he finished with 2/41 in 15 overs, conceding just over 2.5 runs per over.
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