A dominant 124 from Hollywoodbets Dolphins opener Vaughn van Jaarsveld boosted his side to a 19 run Momentum One Day Cup opening round win over the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Saturday.
The innings didn’t start as planned for the Dolphins as Morné van Wyk fell for a first ball duck, caught behind. The hosts were one for one at that stage, however the rest of the innings belonged to the KZN side.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld continued his bright form and Dane Vilas showed his class as the pair built a solid foundation after the early wicket. The duo kept scoring freely as they piled the pressure on the Lions bowlers.
A partnership of 204 developed between Van Jaarsveld and Vilas with the former going to a highest List-A score of his career with 124 from just 102 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.
His partner Vilas was slightly more circumspect, he finished on 81 from 94 deliveries and he fell with the score on 205 in the 33rd over of the innings.
Van Jaarsveld was caught in the deep trying to press home the advantage that he and Vilas had given the Dolphins with the score on 209 in the 34th over.
Dave Miller and captain Khaya Zondo came together within an over of each other which meant that the pair needed to show patience early, which they did. They put on 25 together before Zondo fell for 10.
Andile Phehlukwayo scored 19 from 18 balls which became the tonic that pushed them towards 300; he was dismissed with the score on 272 with just over five overs left in the innings.
From there it became the Dave Miller show as the left-hander took a liking to the Lions bowlers in the last five overs.
Miller went to his half century at just better than a run a ball but his last 24 runs came in under 10 deliveries. He finished with two fours and four sixes as he ended on 74, caught off with two balls left in the innings.
Rob Frylinck ended on 22 not out off just 15 balls as the Dolphins came to rest on 342 for six.
In the second innings the visitors started cautiously with Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks putting on 48 for the first wicket before the former was bowled by Prenelan Subrayen for 20.
Kagiso Rapulana didn’t last too long and he was dismissed by Imran Tahir, caught by Khaya Zondo at cover for 10.
At 72 for two in the 15th over the Lions were falling behind slightly, however their two most experienced batsmen, Hendricks and captain Rassie van der Dussen batted their side back into contention.
The pair put on 121 for the third wicket before the captain fell for 51. He chipped one back to Tahir at the bowlers end to break what was a threatening partnership.
From there Henrdicks took control and his hundred came off just 94 balls with nine fours and one six.
Eventually the dangerous right-hander was caught trying to up the ante, holing out to Keshav Maharaj off the bowling of Subrayen.
From there the Lions began to buckle under the scoreboard pressure with Dwayne Pretorius and Mangaliso Mosehle falling for 10, but the 41 run eighth wicket partnership between Bjorn Fortuin and Nono Pongolo threatened at the death.
Pongolo was dismissed for 23 and with his wicket the chances of a miraculous chase were doused as Craig Alexander was dismissed first ball and Fortuin ended 28 not out; the Dolphins winning by 19 runs.
Proteas star Imran Tahir was the pick of the bowlers picking up three for 71 in his ten overs while Maharaj and Subrayen were tidy with the latter bagging two scalps.
Out of the seamers Rob Frylinck returned with figures of two for 53 in his 10 overs.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins now travel to Centurion for their next Momentum One Day Cup assignment against the Multiply Titans on 17 February.
Follow the Hollywoodbets Dolphins on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinsCricket/
Twitter: @DolphinsCricket
Instagram: @DolphinsCricket
