A crucial half-century by Senuran Muthusamy followed by four wickets from the Dolphins bowlers ensured they closed the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter with the Knights on top in Durban on Tuesday.
The Proteas all-rounder recorded a valuable 80 (169 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) for his side to help them amass 335 on a slow Kingsmead pitch.
The competition’s leading wicket-taker, Prenelan Subrayen (2-33), and Okuhle Cele (2-6) then claimed doubles as the visitors were under pressure when the day ended early due to bad light, sitting on 86-4 – still 249 runs in arrears.
It concluded another excellent day for Imraan Khan’s charges who, at the turn of the year, looked right out of the competition.
Now they are bidding for a third straight win and one that could push them right into the mix with two rounds to go after this one.
After a tough first day when they scored just 207-4, with their good early work looking like it might unravel when centurion Sarel Erwee fell early for 136 (321 balls, 15 fours).
His wicket was followed by that of Mangaliso Mosehle (2), both taken out by pick of the bowlers Tshepo Ntuli (4-121), as the Dolphins suddenly found themselves on 244-6.
But Muthusamy, aided by Subrayen (15) and Daryn Dupavillon (27), helped them move on quickly towards the end as they reached a solid enough total.
Grant Mokoena (17) and Raynard van Tonder (31), the leading scorer with the bat in the competition, put on 48 for the first wicket, before the pair fell to Subrayen and Cele, respectively, on the same score.
Pite van Biljon (1) quickly followed, with more joy for the home side in the third-last over of play when Patrick Kruger (15) was sent packing, ending a strong day for the hosts.
Photo: Gallo Images
