Despite a near match-saving innings from Temba Bavuma, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins showed sufficient patience to get themselves their second consecutive 4-Day Domestic Series win as they beat the Imperial Lions by 130 runs at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Thursday.
With the win the Dolphins broke a 12 year drought when it comes to red ball wins in Pietermaritzburg. Their last win came in 2007 when coach Imraan Khan and assistant coach Quinton Friend helped the side beat the Cape Cobras.
A day that saw the Lions having to bat to save the match and the Dolphins with an eye on a momentous win in the provincial capital, it was a battle of patience as Temba Bavuma defied the Dolphins in a knock for the ages.
The Dolphins might have thought it would take them a couple of hours to wrap up the six wickets required after they picked up three wickets in the space of five overs.
Ryan Rickelton’s vigil came to an end when he was bowled by Prenelan Subrayen for 24. Three overs later Senuran Muthusamy got in on the act accounting for Bjorn Fortuin and then Subrayen had his second of the morning, bowling Malusi Siboto first ball.
From there it was a battle for the hosts as Bavuma went to a fifteenth first class century and Nono Pongolo held up his end admirably to take the Lions to lunch and then on into the post-session to tea.
The pair battled the entire middle session of the day as they continued to defend some disciplined bowling from the hosts.
Bavuma went past 150 and then past his highest first class score as he and Pongolo continued to stave off the Dolphins attack.
Pongolo’s resistance came to an end when he was bowled by Daryn Dupavillon with one that kept a bit low but cannoned into his off stump. He made 25 from 161 balls and spent over three hours at the crease.
Eldred Hawken and Beuren Hendricks tried to provide as much resistance as possible however Hawken became Subrayen’s fifth victim with the score on 289.
Bavuma was the last man out for 180. He faced 282 balls in over seven hours with 24 boundaries.
Subrayen was the pick of the Dolphins bowlers with five for 105 in 42 overs. It was the off-spinners fifth five wicket haul in first class cricket. Andile Phehlukwayo and Senuram Muthusamy picked up two wickets each.
Captain of the Dolphins Marques Ackerman was proud of the effort that his side put in over the four days.
“To get back-to-back wins is great and I am really stoked that things are coming together for us,” Ackerman said.
“To have guys like SJ (Erwee) and Vaughn (Van Jaarsveld) getting back into form is really encouraging for us going into next week.”
Dolphins coach Imraan Khan was full of praise for Bavuma but was more than pleased with the way his side had to fight on the final day for the win.
“I think it was a great day of cricket from both teams,” he said. “The Lions made us work extremely hard today and all credit to Temba for his knock but the boys did exceptionally well in some tough conditions today.
“The whole team put in a great effort and did the simple things really well and generally when you do those things well for long periods you do get rewarded.”
The Dolphins face the VKB Knights next week at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in their final 4-Day Domestic Series clash before the teams shift the focus to white ball cricket and the Momentum One Day Cup.
For more information visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Imperial Lions
Dolphins 1st Inn 381 all out
(S Erwee 136 M Ackerman 107 W Lubbe 5/43)
Lions 1st Inn 147 all out
(D Dupavillion 4/29 P Subrayen 3/21 R Hendricks 49)
Dolphins 2nd Inn 195/6d
(S Erwee 50, V van Jaarsveld 50)
Lions 2nd Inn 299 all out
(P Subrayen 5/105 T Bavuma 180)
Dolphins won by 130 runs
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