The Hollywoodbets Dolphins put their disappointing outing in Bloemfontein behind them as they played themselves into a commanding position against the Six Gun Grill Cobras on the opening day of their CSA 4 Day Domestic Series match at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Monday.
The home side went into the game with a reshaped batting line-up, with Senuran Muthusamy moved up to open with SJ Erwee, and they were asked to bat first by the Cobras on an overcast morning at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead.
The visitors were rewarded through a mistake from the Dolphins opening batsmen as the in-form SJ Erwee was run-out by a direct hit from Pieter Malan for thirteen, including three boundaries.
Muthusamy then managed to dig in and work hard with number three Keegan Petersen for the second wicket, putting together a fifty run stand that was ended by a good catch in the slips by Cobras captain Zubayr Hamza to dismiss Petersen for a well-played 32.
The Dolphins were still going along at a strong run-rate, however with the score at 63 for two captain Marques Ackerman joined Muthusamy and the pair were subdued and observant for the period up until lunch.
They upped the scoring rate as the afternoon progressed until Ackerman fell on a well-crafted 66, a slip in concentration as he misjudged the length of a Mgijima delivery and skied a top edge to mid-off.
The veteran Muthusamy was then joined by Khaya Zondo at the crease and they added 92 runs for the fourth wicket before Muthusamy was out for a balanced and enterprising 79, falling straight after the final session drinks break as the visitors took the new ball.
Grant Roelofsen got into his stride and was disappointed to edge Bosch to the gully when he had put together 17, leaving the Dolphins a 277/5, facing a swinging new ball in fading light until play was called off for the day in the gloomy conditions.
“We have had a good day at the office,” said skipper Marques Ackerman. “We have put Bloem behind us and we want to focus on what we do well at home.
“Now we need to make sure we do well in our first innings with the bat, and then take it from there.”
