Despite a spirited bowling performance, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins fell to a nail-biting one-wicket defeat to the Momentum Multiply Titans in their CSA One Day Cup opener at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium
After deciding to bat first, it was a measured start from the Dolphins as the openers took the opportunity to get themselves in and some good bowling from the Titans kept the scoring rate in check for the early part of the innings.
The opening partnership from Sarel Erwee and Grant Roelofsen was patient as they put together 42 for the first wicket before Roelofsen was bowled by Aya Gqamane for 18.
Keegan Petersen was then caught down the legside for a duck off Gqamane and the Dolphins were 48 for two in the thirteenth over of their innings.
Erwee was joined by Dave Miller and the pair proceeded to put together 36 runs before Erwee became Tabraiz Shamsi’s wicket, LBW for 38.
It was Miller who fell next, caught in the deep off Shamsi for 24 off 44 balls. The Dolphins had reached 91 when they lost Miller’s wicket in the 27th over of their innings.
Khaya Zondo remained calm at the other end as he put together a measured half-century, scoring 62 not out off 79 balls.
He was supported by Andile Phehlukwayo who made 26 along with captain Keshav Maharaj who also scored 26 while Eathan Bosch made ten off three balls at the end of the innings.
The Dolphins finished their innings on 215 for six from their 50 overs.
Kerwin Mungroo gave the Dolphins the perfect start to their defence when he clean bowled Gihahn Cloete in the first over for a duck.
They had their second wicket when Dean Elgar edged a Prenelan Subrayen delivery to slip while the third came soon after when Keshav Maharaj got his first, bowling Theunis de Bruyn.
The Titans were 34 for three at that stage when Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen came together.
The pair combined to put on a partnership of 92 for the fourth wicket before Subrayen had Klaasen caught behind for 42.
Before that Markram went to his half-century as the Titans looked to have the game under control.
Markram and captain Sibz Makhanya put together 32 before Mungroo got his second wicket when he trapped the set Markram in front for 70.
The Titans were still in control at 158 for five with thirteen overs left to get the required 58.
Ottniel Baartman did all he could when he got Simon Harmer out and then in the following over took two wickets in two balls to dismiss Lizaad Williams and Tabraiz Shamsi, however, Makhanya and Lungi Ngidi got the Titans over the line with ten balls to spare.
Makhanya played a captain’s innings as his 49 not out helped them over the line to a nerve-wracking one-wicket win over the Dolphins.
SUMMARY OF THE SCORE
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 215/6 (K Zondo 62*)
Momentum Multiply Titans (A Markam 70 S Makhanya 49* H Klaasen 42
Titans won by one wicket
