Dolphins' knockout hopes receive timely boost
A brilliant all-round performance from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins saw them claim a crucial bonus point 194 run victory over WSB Western Province at Newlands on Friday.
The Dolphins backed up their victory last Wednesday against the DP World Lions with an emphatic performance in Cape Town to jump up into play-off contention on the overall table. After winning the toss the Dolphins got off to a brilliant start when they put the Province bowlers to the sword as openers Jon-Jon Smuts and Tshepang Dithole accumulated runs at will. The pair put on 129 for the first wicket, a highest first wicket partnership for the Dolphins against Western Province.
Smuts got to 61 at a run a ball before he holed out to long on in the 24th over of the innings. Unfortunately for the Dolphins theN lost their second wicket just a few balls later when Dithole was stumped off the bowling of George Linde for 67 off 82 balls. The Dolphins lost their third wicket when Jason Smith was caught behind off the bowling of Kyle Simmonds for two and then Khaya Zondo was run-out in the next over. This meant the Dolphins had fallen to 141 for four after 26 overs.
Bryce Parsons continued his good run of form, and he was well supported by Hanu Viljoen as the pair put on 50 for the fifth wicket which was crucial in rebuilding for the Dolphins. The 200 came up in the 39th over for the Dolphins who were looking to launch in the final ten overs of the innings. Parsons and Viljoen had put together 86 for the fifth wicket and Parsons was looking at another half century, however he holed out to deep square leg for 48 in the 41st over. At that stage the Dolphins were 227 for five with nine overs left in the innings.
Hanu Viljoen went to a first One Day Cup half century for the Dolphins. It came off 49 deliveries with five fours as the Dolphins continued to make a charge towards the end of the innings. Viljoen then became the sixth wicket to fall for the Dolphins. He was caught by Kyle Verreynne off the bowling of Mihali Mpongwana for a well-played 74 off 63 balls. His partnership with Eathan Bosch was also an important contribution as the pair put on 64 off 39 balls. The Dolphins were 291 for six when they lost Viljoen with 16 balls left in the innings.
Bosch added a vital 40 off just 26 balls at the end of the innings as he and Andile Simelane took the Dolphins over 300 and at the end of the innings the Dolphins finished on 317 for six. The Dolphins had their first wicket in the opening over when Prenelan Subrayen clean bowled Eddie Moore for a duck to give the Dolphins the perfect start to their defence of 317. Young Tristan Luus continued the good start when he bowled Valentine Kitime for a duck as the visitors had the hosts nine for two. Luus then picked up his second wicket just 13 runs later when Mohammed Vallie was caught by Dithole for four.
David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne tried to get the Province team back on track and put together 40 for the fourth wicket. Bedingham’s 45 from 39 was threatening to get Province ahead, however it was the returning Ottniel Baartman who got in the game. Baartman had Bedingham caught by Khaya Zondo for 45. It was all the Dolphins bowlers from there as Verreynne was bowled for seven by Eathan Bosch with the score still on 62. Dolphins captain Prenelan Subrayen then got back in on the act when Hanu Viljoen took a smart catch behind to dismiss Mihali Mpongwana for two.
Four runs later when Province were on 76 they lost the dangerous George Linde, bowled by Subrayen for seven. Just two runs after that the Dolphins had their eighth wicket. Luus brought back into the attack, and he had Onke Nyaku caught at point for five. With the score on 97 the Dolphins got their ninth when Dane Paterson nicked behind to Viljoen off the bowling of Baartman for six off 12 balls. Jon-Jon Smuts then picked up the final wicket when Kyle Simmonds was caught by Bryce Parsons for 30 to see the Dolphins bowl Western Province out for 123 to hand the Dolphins a 194 run win.
The Dolphins have a break and will play the Knights at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Friday.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 317/6 (H Viljoen 74 T Dithole 67 J Smuts 61 B Parsons 48 E Bosch 40*)
WSB Western Province 123 all out (P Subrayen 3/27 T Luus 3/36)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins win by 194 runs
