A brilliant hundred from Morné van Wyk, and two consecutive sixes off the final two deliveries of the match from Rob Frylinck helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins defeat the WSB Cape Cobras by three wickets in the Momentum One Day Cup in Paarl on Wednesday.
Morné van Wyk turned back the clock once again as he provided the spine of the Dolphins’ record run chase at Eurolux Boland Park, while the cool-headed Frylinck proved that he is one of the best finishers in South African domestic cricket.
The Cobras won the toss in the piping hot Winelands and elected to bat first on an understandably dry wicket, but the Dolphins couldn’t have asked for a better start when Frylinck castled the dangerous Richard Levi without scoring in the first over.
The Durban outfit would have wanted to take advantage of the strong start, however Pieter Malan (62) and Aviwe Mgijima (40) put on a patient 103 for the second wicket to give their side the edge.
Mgijima then reverse swept a Prenelan Subrayen delivery straight to Sarel Erwee at short fine-leg before Malan was out LBW to Imran Tahir the very next over.
The Cobras were 105/3 with captain JP Duminy and the young Jason Smith at the wicket. The pair gave their side impressive impetus as they added 50 runs for the fourth wicket.
Smith became Frylinck’s second victim for 16 as his captain continued to put the Dolphins bowlers under pressure.
Duminy’s 66 ball 86 was the backbone of the Cobras innings as Wayne Parnell (32) and Kyle Veryenne (32) helped their side post a more than competitive 289/6.
Frylinck was the pick of the Dolphins bowlers with figures of 3/44 in 10 overs while Calvin Savage, Sibz Makhanya and Prenelan Subrayen all took one wicket each.
The chase from the men from Durban couldn’t have started better with openers Morné van Wyk and Sarel Erwee putting on a confident, Boland Park record, 161 for the first wicket.
Erwee was run out for a skillful 80 from 69 deliveries, but it was the ever-green Van Wyk who notched up his 24th List A hundred.
Following the loss of Erwee Van Wyk was circumspect as he regrouped and brought up his century off 130 balls before a chipped a George Linde delivery to point for a crucial 107.
Senuran Muthusamy looked accomplished when he put together 35 from 38 balls before the Dolphins lost their way when he was bowled by Wayne Parnell and captain Khaya Zondo followed in the same over for a duck.
The Dolphins were teetering at 240/4 with seven overs to go in the chase.
It got more difficult as the Cobras continued to keep it tight and the Dolphins were restricted to 277/6 with 13 runs required off the final six balls.
Calvin Savage fell off the fourth delivery of the final over and the Dolphins needed 11 from two deliveries and Frylinck dispatched two Ferisco Adams deliveries out of the ground to give his side a memorable victory.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins return home to take on the VKB Knights at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in the Momentum One Day Cup on Friday, 12 January.
For more information go to www.dolphinscricket.co.za
