Although the Dolphins are already assured of a semi-final berth in the One-Day Cup, their final round-robin clash away to the Highveld Lions at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday still has a lot riding on it.
The Dolphins will be looking for a win in the hopes of retaining their second-place spot, which will offer them the advantage of home ground advantage for next week’s semi-final. The Cape Cobras are a point adrift and will take on the Warriors on Saturday.
Dolphins coach Grant Morgan reflected on their convincing nine-wicket win over the Warriors on Wednesday, and said he was proud of what the team had achieved going into the match on the back of three losses.
READ ALSO: Erwee ton powers Dolphins’ bonus-point win
‘We bounced back well on Wednesday and went into the game having made some brave selections, and we came out trumps,’ said Morgan.
‘There are still improvements to be made, especially in the field, and we are working really hard on our fielding, but we are still missing opportunities every game.
‘We didn’t concede one extra in the whole game, which was something completely unique for me in my career.’
With his second competition hundred for the season, Sarel Erwee moves into second spot on the run-scorers list with 354 runs in six games. He is currently scoring at 106 runs per 100 balls and is averaging an incredible 88.00 runs per innings.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld has also been prolific for the Dolphins, and sits in fourth place on the run-scorers chart with 340 runs from his nine innings.
‘Just losing the one wicket and putting together two big partnerships are what we have been looking for, and it puts us in a great position to play some positive cricket in Potchefstroom.
READ ALSO: Pride, if not a semi-final berth, at stake for Lions
‘It’s important for us that we maintain this momentum and winning form going into the semi-finals. We just want to do well for the people back home, and for ourselves,’ added Morgan.
The Lions scored a morale-boosting victory over their Highveld neighbours the Titans on Wednesday, but the competition is all but over for the Johannesburg side, a factor which could prove dangerous for the Dolphins, as the Lions will be playing for pride in the hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon.
With a spin-heavy attack, the Dolphins have relied a lot on Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen and Senuran Muthusamy to do the bulk of the wicket-taking so far in the competition.
Seamer Okuhle Cele bagged three wickets against the Warriors, and young Eathan Bosch has been tidy with the new ball, so the bowling attack is finding form at the right end of the campaign.
Dolphins squad
Sarel Erwee
Vaughn van Jaarsveld
Marques Ackerman
Dane Vilas
Khaya Zondo (c)
Sibz Makhanya
Senuran Muthusamy
Keshav Maharaj
Calvin Savage
Eathan Bosch
Okuhle Cele
Prenelan Subrayen
Mthokozisi Shezi
Kerwin Mungroo
Lwandiswa Zuma
Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gameplan Media
