Ethan Bosch led a brilliant bowling display by the Dolphins as they completed a stunning 279-run victory over the Highveld Lions on day three of the sixth round of 4-Day Franchise Series matches.
Lions vs Dolphins
The fast bowler nabbed four for 35 in eight overs as the hosts, who were chasing 386 for victory, were rolled over for 106 in less than 20 overs – their third-lowest score in the fixture against the same opponents.
It capped a dismal end to the year for Enoch Nkwe’s men, who headed into the game looking the likeliest team to catch runaway leaders the Cape Cobras.
Instead, they batted for a little over 60 overs in two innings and scored a woeful aggregate of 240 runs after their poor 134 all out in the first innings.
The only bright light for them was the performance of Dwaine Pretorius, who ended with 10 wickets in a match for the first time in his career after collecting four for 37 earlier in the day as the Dolphins were bowled out for 216.
Resuming on 119 for five at the start of day three, the KwaZulu-Natal side did not offer much, except for 20s from Grant Roelofsen (26), Bosch (24) and Dudgeon (26 not out) that helped them add just over 100.
Pretorius’ quarter of second-innings wickets saw him end with an outstanding 10 for 75, but he was let down badly by his batting teammates.
The Lions lost their top three with seven on the board – Stephen Cook (0), Reeza Hendricks (5) and Omphile Ramela (2) doing nothing to help their side.
The former pair were removed by Bosch, with the latter dismissed by Dudgeon (2-32), who got Wihan Lubbe (10) not long after to leave the home side tottering on 17 for four at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.
Bosch struck again to account for Nicky van den Bergh (8), before a double strike by Kerwin Mungroo (2-16) took out top-scorer Rassie van der Dussen (37) and Pretorius (1) to leave the Lions in even further trouble on 75 for seven.
Keshav Maharaj (2-2) wasted little time in mopping up the tail as the home side were brushed aside at the Bullring.
Dolphins 303 (K Zondo 114, C Chetty 65, AL Phehlukwayo 57, KA Maharaj 23; D Pretorius 6-38, BE Hendricks 2-52, Z Pongolo 1-67, AM Phangiso 1-71) & 119-5 (VB van Jaarsveld 33, SJ Erwee 31, K Zondo 28, G Roelofsen 26, KJ Dudgeon 26 not out, E Bosch 24; D Pretorius 4-37, CJ Alexander 2-38, AM Phangiso 2-50, BE Hendricks 2-71)
Lions 134 (WJ Lubbe 36, CJ Alexander 20 not out; K Mungroo 3-35, KJ Dudgeon 3-40) & 106 (HE van der Dussen 37, Z Pongolo 19, AM Phangiso 17; E Bosch 4-35, KA Maharaj 2-2, K Mungroo 2-16, KJ Dudgeon 2-32)
Dolphins won by 279 runs
Knights vs Titans
A century by Jonathan Vandiar ensured the Titans were in the driving seat after the third day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The burly left-hander made 102 (153 balls, 18×4, 1×6) as the visitors progressed from their day two score of 89 for two to 242 all out in their second innings.
It left the hosts needing 345 for victory and they got more than half of those runs during the remainder of the day, but were still precariously placed on 163 for four.
Most of their hopes rested on Rudi Second, who was unbeaten on 22 off 61 balls, with all-rounder Ryan McLaren (11) the last of the recognised batters with him as the Knights were left still needing 152.
Earlier on they had Shadley van Schalkwyk to thank for helping them dismiss the Titans in 68.5 overs. The seamer grabbed five for 80 – his fifth career five-wicket haul – that ensured the Central franchise was still well in the game heading into the final innings.
Apart from Vandiar’s ninth first-class ton, there was not much else to speak of for the away side. Heinrich Klaasen managed 40, while Chris Morris chipped in with 20, Duanne Olivier bagging three for 31.
Facing a stiff target, the home side lost Keegan Petersen early when he fell to Alfred Mothoa (1-15) for a duck, before Grant Mokoena’s 45 gave them hope. The opener shared a 69-run second-wicket stand with top-scorer Andries Gous (68 off 103 balls, 12×4) before he was bowled by Chris Morris (1-44).
Tabraiz Shamsi (1-35) and Tshepo Moreki (1-43) removed Gous and captain Pite van Biljon (8) to leave the Knights in trouble before the stand between Second and McLaren helped their side fight through to the close.
Titans 303 (F du Plessis 84, H Klaasen 63, F Behardien 53, D Elgar 37; Olivier 4-23, SC van Schalkwyk 3-72, T Ntuli 2-71) & 242 (JD Vandiar 102, H Klaasen 40, D Elgar 25, CH Morris 20; SC van Schalkwyk 5-80, D Olivier 3-31, T Ntuli 1-15, R McLaren 1-51)
Knights 231 (TG Mokoena 58, KD Petersen 30; T Shamsi 5-83, I Moseki 2-34) & 163-4 (AGS Gous 68, TG Mokoena 45, RS Second 22 not out; SA Mothoa 1-15, T Shamsi 1-35, TL Moreki 1-43, CH Morris 1-44)
Knights need 152 runs with 6 second-innings wickets in hand
Warriors vs Cape Cobras
There was a timeous return to form for Hashim Amla after he made 61 (135 balls, 8×4), while Zubayr Hamza, the latest addition to the Standard Bank Proteas set-up for the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, made an unbeaten 78 (95 balls, 10×4, 1×6) on the third day of the match between the Cape Cobras and the Warriors at St. George’s Park.
The performance of the visiting batsmen meant the hosts were set a target of 418 for victory, and they began the chase well by reaching stumps unscathed on 93.
But the day before largely belonged to Janneman Malan. Playing his first season of four-day franchise cricket, he has impressed thus far with one century and one 50. And he added a second to that list alongside Amla, who was slightly under pressure to prove his form ahead of the first Test in Centurion starting next week.
The pair added 137 for the second wicket before Hamza took over and added 98 with Kyle Verreynne (35 not out) for the fourth wicket – the Cobras declaring in 111.4 overs.
Openers Gihahn Cloete and Eddie Moore then gave the Warriors hope, thanks to their fluent open stand. The pair scored at nearly four to the over to bring the equation down to 325 needed on the final day. Moore was the anchor with his 26 off 68 balls, while Cloete was the aggressor as he went to stumps not out on 59 off 84 balls (10×4).
Cape Cobras 266 (PJ Malan 72, JN Malan 67, SM Khomari 45, D Paterson 41; SSB Magala 3-66, BD Walters 2-32, L Sipamla 2-46) & 403-3 decl (JN Malan 168, Zubayr Hamza 74 not out, PJ Malan 61, HM Amla 61, K Verreynne 35 not out; BD Walters 1-66, L Sipamla 1-75, SR Harmer 1-128)
Warriors 252 (EM Moore 75, JT Smuts 63, S Qeshile 41; M Nabe 3-43, DL Piedt 3-56) & 93-0 (EM Moore 26 not out, GL Cloete 59 not out)
Warriors need 325 runs with 10 second-innings wickets in hand
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
