The Hollywoodbets Dolphins fell to their first defeat of the 2019 Momentum One Day Cup when they were beaten by eight wickets on the D/L method by the Warriors at Kingsmead on Tuesday.
The Dolphins won the toss and batted first but lost the wicket of Vaughn van Jaarsveld in the third over of the innings for just two runs with the total on two.
From there SJ Erwee and Dane Vilas put on 28 for the second wicket before the former fell for seven.
Dave Miller and Vilas added an important 38 to the total in just over nine overs. Vilas then fell for 34 at a crucial stage as he was about the look to up the ante.
With the total on 70 for three, captain Khaya Zondo came to the wicket and the skipper might have felt slightly disappointed when he was caught down the legside off the bowling of Sisanda Magala for just six.
The Dolphins were in danger of falling apart when Andile Phehlukwayo joined Miller at the wicket.
The two Proteas steadied the innings well and batted well in the middle period of the innings.
Both batsmen went to crucial half centuries in a partnership of 104 in 18 overs.
Miller was the first wicket to fall, chipping one to cover for 68 off 82 balls which included seven fours. He was dismissed with the score on 189 in the 40th over.
Phehlukwayo also scored 68, however his 68 came from 72 deliveries and included seven fours and two sixes.
Problematically for the Dolphins Phehlukwayo fell just eight runs after Miller.
At that stage the hosts were 197 for six in the 41st over.
Senuran Muthusamy produced 24 runs while Calvin Savage made 13 as the Dolphins were 225 for seven, 236 for eight and then 241 for nine.
Imran Tahir was the final wicket to fall with the Dolphins total on 244.
Magala was the pick of the bowlers for the Warriors picking up five for 59 in just under 10 overs.
The Warriors started positively with the bat and openers Gihahn Cloete and Matthew Breetzke put on 47 for the first wicket in nine overs.
Breetzke was the first victim, caught by Senuran Muthusamy off Calvin Savage for 17.
Cloete and his captain Jon-Jon Smuts put on 43 until the players came off for rain. Cloete went to his fifty off 58 balls with seven fours.
After the break the target was revised to 152 in 31 overs, meaning the Warriors required 62 off 10 overs.
In the second over after the delay Imran Tahir struck, removing the dangerous Cloete for 55.
The Warriors skipper then took the mantle and scored unbeaten 42 off 48 balls while Lesiba Ngoepe scored a fluent 28 off 20 balls to take their side to victory with 20 balls to spare.
Imran Tahir and Calvin Savage were the two Dolphins bowlers to get a wicket.
The next Momentum One Day Cup fixture for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins is a meeting with the VKB Knights on Saturday, 2 March at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium.
Learn more at www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
