The Dolphins got their Sunfoil Series off to a perfect start with a dominant victory over the Warriors, thanks to a brilliant all-round display from Keshav Maharaj.
After a rather low-scoring start to the Sunfoil Series this past week, the Dolphins scored 478 in their first innings as they eased past the Warriors by an innings and 70 runs.
After a duck to start things off with the dismissal of Imran Khan, Sarel Erwee and Daryn Smit turned things around by putting on a second-wicket partnership of 106 runs before Erwee lost his wicket after a contribution of 59 runs. Partnerships seemed to be the key to the Dolphins‘ batting display as Smit kept things going with Vaughn van Jaarsveld to take their side to 266 runs with a dominant partnership of 160 runs between them. Van Jaarsveld was unlucky to lose his wicket just ten runs shy of his century after seeing his partner, Smit, reach a well-deserved ton.
Khaya Zondo put on a vital batting display to reach his half-century despite wickets falling around him, but the introduction of Maharaj (72) helped steady the ship as the pair put on a magnificent eighth-wicket partnership of 106 runs seeing the tail-ender bag a half-century which determined the hefty total set by the end of their innings.
The Warriors‘ bowlers tried hard to reduce their opponents’ chances of setting a high total, with Andrew Birch (3-83), Basheeru-Deen Walters (4-72) and Africa T20 Cup star Sisanda Magala (2-82) putting in good shifts, the visitors posting a total of 478 at the end of their first innings.
The Warriors had a sub-par first innings with only a second-wicket partnership of 128 between Edward Moore (62) and Colin Ackermann (68) to show for it. It was a magnificent bowling display from the Dolphins bowling attack which forced the follow on, Keshav Maharaj getting amazing figures of 7-89 to see the hosts post 230 runs in their first innings. Great bowling from Maharaj (6-68) once again sealed the Warriors‘ fate as they were bundled out for a measly 178 runs on the final day, with 70 runs left to spare.
Other results from the opening week saw the Highveld Lions destroy the Cobras and the Knights defeat the Titans in an entertaining first week of Sunfoil four-day cricket.
Dolphins vs Warriors scorecard
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
