A measured, undefeated half century from Hollywoodbets Dolphins opener Bryce Parsons helped the Dolphins to an important four wicket win over the DP World Lions in the CSA T20 Challenge at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Parsons played the perfect knock in the circumstances with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins chasing a tricky 156 to beat a star-studded Lions outfit.
He finished on 62 not out off 49 balls that included four fours and three sixes as he, along with contributions from Jason Smith and a flurry at the end from Andile Phehlukwayo, got the Dolphins their first win of the competition.
The Dolphins chose to bowl first and managed to keep the strong Lions top-order in check and after the powerplay the Lions were 43 for one with Ryan Rickelton back in the changeroom for 10.
The dangerous Rassie van der Dussen was bowled by Jon-Jon Smuts for 28 and then Reeza Hendricks fell to a great diving catch from Daryn Dupavillon off the bowling of Ottniel Baartman for five as the Dolphins continued to keep the Lions honest.
At the loss of those two big wickets, the Lions were 47 for three in the eighth over.
They lost the wickets of Wiaan Mulder and Mitchell van Buuren before they had reached 85 and the Dolphins would have felt confident that they could restrict the Lions to under 150.
Temba Bavuma scored a crucial 53 off 40 balls and Delano Potgieter added 17 off six balls to see the Lions to 155/5.
Okuhle Cele, once again, shone with the ball picking up 2/21 in his four overs while Baartman took 2/25 and Smuts bagged one.
The Dolphins were wary in their chase of the total.
Grant Roelofsen was the first wicket to fall with the total on 29 in the fifth over, but Smuts fell one run later for a duck.
At the end of the powerplay the Dolphins were 40 for two with Parsons and Brad Porteous rebuilding the innings.
Porteous was unable to get going and fell for 17 with the score on 68, however, Jason Smith added the needed impetus to the Dolphins’ innings.
The pair of Parsons and Smith put on 63 for the fourth wicket which took the Dolphins to within 25 runs of the total.
Smith was caught at short third-man for 32 off 19 balls and Phehlukwayo continued in the same vein to take the Dolphins to the brink of victory.
The home side lost Phehlukwayo for 14, run out after a mix-up with Parsons, and Khaya Zondo the next ball for a duck. This meant the Dolphins needed one run off the final six balls with four wickets in hand.
Captain Prenelan Subrayen lofted one over square leg to take the Dolphins to a four-wicket win with five balls to spare.
More importantly, it was their first win of the competition heading into two more big games this week. They travel to Paarl to face the GBets Rocks on Friday and then return home for a clash with the North West Dragons at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
DP World Lions 155/5 (T Bavuma 53* R van der Dussen 28 O Cele 2/21 O Baartman 2/25)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 159/6 (B Parsons 62* J Smith 32 D Potgieter 3/25)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins win by four wickets.
