Following a disciplined bowling display, the Imperial Lions were made to work for their 108 runs to beat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by four wickets in the Betway T20 Challenge final at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday.
The momentum was with the Lions from the first over as SJ Erwee was bowled without a run on the board.
The wickets continued to fall regularly with the Dolphins batsmen falling to the pressure created by the Lions bowlers throughout the innings.
Accurate bowling from the Lions saw the Dolphins stutter to 20 for three at the end of the powerplay with Erwee, Ruan de Swardt and Dave Miller all back in the dressing room.
Khaya Zondo contributed a vital 24 as he was part of the rebuilding effort for the Dolphins and along with Grant Roelofsen took the Dolphins to 38 before the latter fell for 20.
Mangaliso Mosehle added 18 to the total and Rob Frylinck added a crucial 30 off just 26 balls to help the Dolphins to 107 for seven from their 20 overs.
In reply the Dolphins started well with the ball with Keshav Maharaj picking up the wicket of Ryan Rickelton for three.
A 36 run stand between Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma was crucial for the Lions before the Dolphins surged back with some crucial wickets.
The home side then took four wickets for 19 runs in the middle overs with Frylinck, Otniel Baartman, Kerwin Mungroo and Prenelan Subrayen all picking up wickets.
It was then down to Wiaan Mulder who 24 not out helped his side over the line as Bjorn Fortuin hit a boundary off the final ball of the nineteenth over to win the match.
Baartman finished the match as the best bowler for the Dolphins as he finished for two for 20 in his four overs.
