Dolphins continue winning streak

It was a match to remember. Half centuries from Jon-Jon Smuts and Jason Smith guided the Durban Hollywoodbets Dolphins to an emphatic seven wicket win over the North West Dragons (NW Dragons) on Sunday (March 9).

Smith made his second consecutive half-century while Smuts’ 75 was a welcome return to form following a failure against the Knights last Friday.

The men from Durban turned their campaign around in fine style, winning four matches in a row after they lost their first three matches of the competition.

The NW Dragons won the toss and chose to bowl first. They were in the wickets early when Eathan Bosch had Rubin Hermann were caught for nine. The Dolphins had to wait 69 runs until they had their second wicket. With the Dragons on 82, Janneman Malan was caught by Khaya Zondo off the bowling of Tristan Luus for 28.

Luus dismissed Meeka-Eel Prince for 38, and the Dragons were 91 for three in the nineteenth over. The Dolphins then defeated the Dragons' middle order as a run out and two wickets for Prenelan Subrayen restricted the Dragons to 148 for six in the 35th over.

Dragons captain Wihan Lubbe was the mainstay for the hosts, and he made a crucial 69 off 86 balls to guide the Dragons to 246 for seven in their 50 overs. Ruan de Swardt made 45, not out off 50 balls at the end of the innings. The reply from the Dolphins didn’t get off to the best start as they lost Tshepang Dithole for three. Smuts and Bryce Parsons then combined for an 88-run stand before the latter was caught off the bowling of De Swardt for 39 off 41 balls.

Smith then joined Smuts in the middle off the back of his impressive knock on Friday, and he carried on from where he left off. The pair added 56 for the fourth wicket as Smuts went to another half century. He was eventually run out for 75 off 73 balls with ten fours.

The players then had to leave the field due to the rain, and when they returned, the Dolphins' target had been adjusted. It ultimately came down to Smith and Khaya Zondo guiding the Dolphins across the line. Their 68-run partnership saw the Dolphins to their 216-run target and gave them an emphatic seven-wicket win with 31 balls to spare. 

Zondo finished on an unbeaten 26 off 26 balls, and Smith was undefeated on 61 off 64 balls with four fours and a six.