A career-best bowling performance from Ottniel Baartman and a half-century from Sarel Erwee guided the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins to an eight-wicket T20 Knock Out win over the North West Dragons in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Baartman’s spell of bowling was much-needed at the time and did a lot to stem the run flow for the Dragons, who had done well during the powerplay.
The seamer picked up the important wicket of Wesley Marshall for 18 in the fourth over with the score on 27. However, from there Eben Botha took over and managed to get on top of the Dolphins seamers.
It took the skipper Subrayen to dismiss Botha, who was trapped lbw for 41 off just 17 deliveries.
The spinners then came into their own as Subrayen and the debutant Bryce Parsons combined to three wickets for just 37 runs in their eight overs.
Subrayen finished with 1-19 in his four overs and left-arm spinner Parsons 2-18.
Baartman’s career-best figures of 4-20 helped the Dolphins restrict the Dragons to just 65 runs in 14 overs after the powerplay, which saw them finish on 128-8.
In reply, Erwee played a measured innings at the top of the order for the Dolphins as he went to his first half-century of the season with 68 off 50 balls (three fours and five sixes).
Erwee was dismissed with 20 runs to win but Grant Roelofsen finished with 39* off 26 balls while Marques Ackerman supported him with seven, which included the winning runs.
The Dolphins chased down the 129 to win inside 16 overs to earn a bonus point that could prove crucial.
Dolphins captain Prenelan Subrayen was happy with how the side fought back with the ball and were clinical with the bat.
“I think the depth of our bowling pleased me most today and the maturity of our batting,” he told SuperSport. “It showed that when we grab the game by the scruff of the neck we can take it away as well bring it back when it doesn’t go our way.
“It obviously wasn’t the powerplay that we intended for but there were calm heads out there that knew the game would slow down when the pace came off the ball.
“The comeback from the fast bowlers and the effort from all the bowlers was crucial in keeping them to a low score.”
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
