A rampant Hollywoodbets KZN Inland side demolished Eastern Province by 21 runs in their semi-final of the CSA Provincial T20 Cup at Willowmoore Park to win a place in the Tuesday’s final.
Having been put into bat by Eastern Province on a blustery day in Benoni, skipper Cody Chetty put the Eastern Cape bowlers to the sword, hammering their attack to all corner of the ground, taking the Inland side to 100 in just over ten overs.
Chetty eventually fell for 62 off 43 balls, bowled while trying to cut left-arm spinner Jade de Klerk.
Mangaliso Mosehle joined Grant Roelofsen at the crease and added another twenty runs before Mosehle skied one off Kelly Smuts, bringing big-hitter Robbie Frylinck to the crease.
Roelofsen then stepped up to wrest back control of the Inland innings after the run rate had eased and went to his half century off 42 balls as he launched a final closing onslaught with Frylinck.
Roelofsen eventually fell in the final over for 63 to finish the Inland top scorer and one of the consistent performers of the tournament.
Frylinck blasting two sixes as he carded 28 off 14 balls living dangerously, getting Inland to a total of 173 for three at the end of their twenty overs.
As EP set about chasing down their target of 174, Frylinck struck in his first over, removing the dangerous Marco Marais for six runs.
The veteran all-rounder then had Matthew Christensen caught behind in his second over for three, and in the process handing control of the semi-finalists to the Pietermaritzburg-based outfit.
Under pressure the EP top order buckled. Skipper Kelly Smuts was caught in the deep off Michael Booth, Nduduso Mfoza accounted for Josh van Heerden and then Booth castled Onke Nyaku.
Left arm spinner Mfoza then swept through the EP batting line-up, bowling Jade de Klerk and Mtabokuso Nqam in the same over.
Frylinck produced a run-out to end a defiant eighth wicket partnership between Thomas Kaber and Tiaan Van Vuuren and the Eastern Province innings ended at 151/9.
Chetty said after the match that they had planned well to counter the EP bowling strategy.
“We felt that the wider they bowled it came on a bit better, so we were able to throw our hands at it a bit and cash in on the powerplay,” said Chetty.
“The key was obviously to shift gears, and I think we did that really well today,” he added.
Chetty added that all-rounder Robbie Frylinck’s contribution to the Inland side was vital, both on and off the field.
“He is massive for us, both with the ball and the back end with the bat.
“He just brings that calm nature to the change room,” he added.
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland will now face Easterns in the final of the CSA Provincial T20 Cup, with the build-up starting at 09h30. The game will be televised LIVE on SuperSport 2.
CSA Provincial T20 Cup
Semi-final #1, Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland 172/3
(C.Chetty 62, G. Roelofsen 63, R. Frylinck 28)
Eastern Province 151/9
(Mfoza 3/16, M. Booth 2/24, R. Frylinck 2/28 )
For more information visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za
