Dolphins smash Warriors in weekend game

THE Hollywoodbets Dolphins cemented their place at the top of the Betway T20 Challenge with a systematic demolition of the Warriors on Sunday afternoon.

When rain forced the players off the field two overs before the scheduled end of the game, the Dolphins top order had already taken full control of the match at 128/2 with a victory target of 144.

The win, by three runs using the Duckworth Lewis method, secured their third win in succession and left them holding all the cards in the tournament, with their spot in the play-offs all but secured.

The victory was built on a superb opening stand of 92 runs between SJ Erwee and Keegan Petersen, the highest partnership of the tournament to date. Erwee fell for an aggressive 52 off 33 balls while Petersen also went on to record his half century.

He was unbeaten on 58 and steered the third wicket partnership with David Miller towards their victory target when the match ended prematurely.

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Earlier in the day, the Warriors won the toss and chose to bat first. They soon found themselves under pressure in the powerplay, with skipper Keshav Maharaj starting with the first of his two maiden overs. Robbie Frylinck claimed the scalp of Gihahn Cloete for 5.

Ottniel Baartman revelled in the overcast conditions and slowish surface as he took Lesiba Ngoepe out with his very first delivery while en route to an impressive return of 2 for 31 from four overs.

The Warriors innings was anchored by a gusty 71 run partnership between Jon Jon Smuts and the sides new skipper, Sinethemba Qeshile. Smuts was sent packing by a brilliant run out effected by a bullet-like throw from Baartman from the boundary.

Queshile was unbeaten at the end of their innings on 47 and added runs in a useful sixth wicket stand with Triston Stubbs to that helped the Warriors reach 143/5.

Score summary:

Warriors 143/5 (O. Baartman 2/31, S. Qeshile 47*)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins 128/2 (S. Erwee 52, K. Petersen 58*)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins win by 3 runs (D/L method)

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting