The Hollywoodbets Dolphins dismantled the WSB Cape Cobras by 49 runs on Wednesday at PPC Newlands, to book themselves a spot in the Momentum One Day Cup final at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday against the Warriors.
A splendid all-round bowling performance from the Dolphins after they set the hosts a modest 231 runs to win the game, meant that the men from Cape Town battled to get a vital partnership together in their chase.
The Dolphins were put into bat on Wednesday evening with a spot in a home final on the line, and openers Morné van Wyk and Sarel Erwee couldn’t have given their side a better start to the innings.
Their opening partnership has become formidable through this season’s Momentum One Day Cup and they put together 126 for the first wicket before Van Wyk chopped on a delivery from George Linde for 62 from 72 balls.
From there the Dolphins dug themselves into a fairly deep pit when Vaughn van Jaarsveld was run out for seven and Dane Vilas followed soon after for a duck.
It got worse for the men from Durban as Sibz Makhanya was the next man to fall to a spectacular slip catch from Aviwe Mgijima for eight and the Dolphins were 148/4 in the 30th over of their innings. They had lost four crucial wickets for 22 runs.
Erwee found a partner in Senuran Muthusamy and the duo put on 43 runs before Muthusamy holed out to deep square-leg for 20.
It was Erwee who continued to hold the innings together until he fell, after captain Keshav Maharaj came and went, when he was caught by keeper Kyle Verreynne off a Mthiwekhaya Nabe delivery for a solid 93 from 135 deliveries.
With the total on 214/7 the Dolphins, Rob Frylinck’s run-a-ball 14 helped his side to 230 all out.
Mthokozisi Shezi and Frylinck were accurate with the new ball reduced the Cobras to just 21/3 after the first nine overs.
Frylinck picked up the first wicket when trapped the in-form Pieter Malan in front for four. Shezi then got in on the act dismissing Simon Khomari for two.
Verreynne was then run out two overs later for six before opener Zubary Hamza and Veron Philander started to build a partnership.
Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen then came in and picked up both the wickets of Philander (26) and Hamza (26) in the same over.
After 18 overs the Cobras were 57/5, still needing 174 runs to win.
Dane Piedt and George Linde (19) and then Dane Paterson gave the Capetonians a glimmer of hope when they took their side to with 60 runs of victory.
Piedt put together his best Momentum One Day Cup score as his 57 gave the Cobras a slight sniff but when he went with the score 175 with only one wicket left to get for the Dolphins.
A great catch from Dane to dismiss Paterson for 29 off Shezi sewed up the Cobras innings for 181 in the 47th over.
The Dolphins spinners Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy were instrumental when they both picked up two wickets.
Mthokozisi Shezi was also in the wickets when he grabbed two; however Rob Frylinck was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/21 in nine overs.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins host the Warriors at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on the Momentum One Day Cup final on Friday. The match starts at 13:30, tickets can be purchased at ticketpro.co.za
