Hollywoodbets Dolphins ladies beat the Fidelity Titans by two wickets in a thrilling first match in the newly-formed Pro20 series at Kingsmead Stadium on Friday.

After having to fight back with the ball, the Dolphins women restricted the Fidelity Titans to 116 for eight in their 20 overs.

Ladies head coach Angelique Taai said Jade De Figueiredo was the choice of the Dolphins bowlers, picking up 3/16 while Alex Candler chipped in with 2/16 as the Dolphins were set a challenging total to chase.

“Despite losing an early wicket the Dolphins managed to keep themselves ahead of the rate throughout. This was thanks largely to 33 off 23 balls from captain Nondumiso Shangase. Yasmeen Khan made 21 on debut for the Dolphins, while a nervy penultimate over saw the Dolphins lose two wickets with just five runs to get. De Figueiredo then hit the third ball of the final over through square leg to give the Dolphins a two-wicket win,” said Ms Taai.

The men’s side lost to visiting Momentum Multiply Titans by 51 runs later in the day.

The Titans started well with the bat as Rivaldo Moonsamy and Lhuan-dre Pretorius got the visitors off to a strong start. As an opening pair they put on 60 before Andile Simelane picked up his first wicket with Pretorius caught in the deep by Romashan Pillay for 39.

Dewald Brevis and Moonsamy combined to add 37 for the second wicket. It was the returning Daryn Dupavillon who got the wicket of Brevis for 17. Simelane had his second wicket when Sibs Makhanya was caught by Bryce Parsons for five which saw the Titans 115 for three in the 14th over of the innings.

Moonsamy went to his half century and was ably assisted by Donovan Ferreira as the Titans went past 150. Their partnership went past 50 off 25 balls with two overs left in their innings.

Ferreira scored a rapid half century and finished on 59 not out off 25 balls with six sixes and one four. Moonsamy finished on 81 not out off 47 balls as the Titans set an imposing 210 for three from their 20 overs.

In their chase, the Dolphins lost Bryce Parsons in the first over for three when he was caught at mid-on. Slade van Staden fell for a duck in the second over when he was caught at slip off the bowling of Roelof van der Merwe. That wicket saw the Dolphins in early trouble at six for two.

After starting well with the bat Khaya Zondo was the third wicket to fall. The Dolphins then consolidated from Marques Ackerman and Jon-Jon Smuts as they took the Dolphins to the halfway point. They needed 125 off the final 60 balls with seven wickets in hand. Ackerman fell chasing quick runs for a well-played 42. The task got harder for the Dolphins needing 102 runs off 43 balls with six wickets left.

Unfortunately, the Dolphins lost Smuts in the fifteenth over when he was caught and bowled by Van der Merwe for 35. The Dolphins needed 99 off 35 balls at this stage with five wickets in hand.

Captain Prenelan Subrayen hit a few lusty blows for his 22 but he was the eighth wicket to fall with the score on 151 in the penultimate over of the chase.

Off the second to last delivery, Daryn Dupavillon was dismissed for three and the Dolphins ended their innings on 159 for nine in their 20 overs. The Momentum Multiply Titans won by 51 runs.

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