Smith and Viljoen guide Hollywoodbets Dolphins to crucial victory

The win was the third in a row for the Dolphins who have revitalised their season and put themselves in a position to fight for a semi-final spot with one match to go in the group phase. Smith and Viljoen’s composed partnership was ultimately the difference between the two side with the middle order batters controlling things for the Dolphins.

The Knights won the toss and chose to bat first and the Dolphins put some early pressure on the Knights with the ball which led to the first wicket. Jacques Snyman chipped one to Bryce Parsons at cover who took a comfortable catch. Snyman fell for three with the Knights eight for one in the fourth over.

The Dolphins bowlers were well on top of the Knights batters for the first ten overs of the innings. The Knights were 15 for one at the end of the tenth over.

After bowling just 2.1 overs the Dolphins lost Ottniel Baartman to an injury as he left the field. Andile Simelane then picked up the wicket of Lesego Senokwane when Hanu Viljoen got his first catch behind of the match. Senokwane had accumulated 27 off 44 balls before he was dismissed.

The Dolphins continued to apply the pressure as Dom Hendricks threatened to get away from the Dolphins bowlers. When he got to 33, Tristan Luus snuck one through his defence to pick up his first wicket with the Knights 70/3 after 21 overs.

Simelane was back in the action next over when he picked up his second wicket clean bowling Patrick Botha for a duck with the score on 71.

Seth Fledermaus was also dismissed with the score on 71. Caught by Parsons off the bowling of Luus for five off ten balls. The Knights lost three wickets for the addition of just one run.

Subrayen then got in on the act with his first wicket when he broke the dangerous partnership between Dian Forrester and Tiaan van Vuuren. Forrester was caught at slip by Khaya Zondo for 22 and the Knights were 109 for six after 34 overs.

The off-spinner had his second and the Dolphins seventh when he had Malusi Siboto caught at slip in a very similar fashion by Zondo again for two. This left the Knights 113 for seven after 36 overs.

Luus continued his fine form with the ball when he had Aaron Phangiso caught behind by Hanu Viljoen for 10 to give him his third wicket.

The Knights had Tiaan van Vuuren and Dane Piedt to thank for an innings saving ninth wicket partnership. The pair put on 57 as Van Vuuren went to a crucial half century.

He would eventually fall for 54 off 76 balls when he skied a Eathan Bosch delivery to Viljoen to give the wicket-keeper his third catch of the evening.

With the score on 196 and in the final over, the Dolphins picked up the tenth wicket off the last ball of the innings when Jon-Jon Smuts had Matthew Pollard caught at long-on for three.

The Knights finished on 196 all out from their 50 overs. It was an unfortunate start for the Dolphins who lost their first wicket in the third over when Smuts skied a sweep shot to short fine leg off the bowling of Phangiso for a duck.

After hitting a boundary Bryce Parsons was the second wicket to fall for the Dolphins with the score on 12. He skied one to mid-on off Dane Piedt to see the Dolphins 12 for two.

Tshepang Dithole batted with the right mindset in the conditions and made his way neatly to 31 before he chipped a Phangiso delivery to Piedt at mid-off.

The Dolphins were 44 for three when the partnership of 32 was broken in the thirteenth over. Another partnership was starting to develop for the Dolphins with Jason Smith and Khaya Zondo at the wicket.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins they lost Zondo for eight when he nicked a Tiaan van Vuuren delivery behind to leave the Dolphins 60 for four.

Hanu Viljoen joined Jason Smith and the pair began the rebuilding phase as they got the required runs under 100 with a 50 run partnership off 74 balls as Smith contributed 33 and Viljoen added 15.

Smith went to a vital 50 off 67 balls with five fours and a six. Smith and Viljoen had brought the runs required below 80 with eighteen overs left in the innings.

The pair then brought up their hundred run partnership in the 39th over of the chase. Smith made 54 and Viljoen 44 as the pair saw the Dolphins through to 163 before Smith became the fifth wicket to fall.

The 103 run partnership was ended when Smith holed out to deep square leg for 71 off 96 balls with six fours and one six. Viljoen went to his second consecutive fifty in the competition off 82 deliveries with five fours.

Ultimately it was Viljoen who finished on 64 not out while Eathan Bosch contributed an unbeaten 14 to get the Dolphins home with 22 balls and five wickets to spare.

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins travel to Potchefstroom to face NWU North West on Sunday in their final match of the group phase of the competition.

SUMMARY OF SCORE

Knights 196 all out (T van Vuuren 54 D Hendricks 33 T Luus 3/52)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins 197/5 (J Smith 71 H Viljoen 64* T Dithole 31)

Dolphins win by five wickets.