A brave 86 from Sibz Makhanya helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to 269 all out on day one of their 4-Day Franchise series clash with the Multiply Titans at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.
Captain Keshav Maharaj won the toss and elected to take first strike and youngsters Jason Oakes and debutant Grant Roelofsen were entrusted with opening the innings for the Durban men.
Oakes, playing in his second franchise match, and Roelofsen his first, put on a steady 52 for the first wicket before Oakes fell to the spin of Shaun von Berg for 31.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld didn’t last long and was bowled by seamer Alfred Mothoa for a single and the Dolphins were 53/2.
Roelofsen and Cody Chetty then managed to steady the ship before the former was bowled by returning Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris for a respectable 31 from 90 deliveries.
The Dolphins then lost Senuran Muthusamy for seven with the score on 96, and 20 runs later Chetty departed, caught by keeper Rivaldo Moonsamy off Mothoa for 34 – the score 116/5.
Sibz Makhanya and Calvin Savage where then required to rebuild and the pair put on a patient 27 before Savage was caught by Junior Dala off Mothoa for 15.
Robbie Frylinck came and went second ball giving Mothoa his fourth wicket of the day and leaving the Dolphins in trouble at 143/7.
Makhanya was joined by captain Maharaj and the pair rebuilt once again, however this time it was a far more significant structure; with the pair adding 90 together.
Makhanya went to a mature half century from 104 deliveries when he dispatched Eldred Hawkin to the midwicket boundary for four.
Maharaj became the eighth Dolphins wicket to fall when he was caught by Moonsamy – becoming Alfred Mothoa’s fifth victim – for a solid 41.
Okuhle Cele was bowled by Von Berg for a duck, however Kerwin Mungroo’s 12 off 14 balls helped the Dolphins to 269.
The set Makhanya, and Mungroo added a more than useful 35 for the final wicket.
Makhanya was the last man out for 86 from 156 balls which included 10 fours and two sixes.
The Dolphins finished the day well when they nabbed the wicket of Tony de Zorzi just a handful of overs before the close. Maharaj had the opener caught at slip by Calvin Savage for a single.
The Titans ended the day on 9/1 with Andrea Agathangelou on seven and Aldred Hawkin on one. They trail the Dolphins by 260 runs.
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