The North West Dragons took on the Dolphins in their final home match of the season from 14-17 February and although the match started on Valentines Day, no love was lost on the field between these two teams.
The Dolphins put on a clinical batting display reaching 485/5 in 90 overs on the first day after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Bryce Parsons top scored with 191 (179 balls) whilst Jon-Jon Smuts also contributed with an unbeaten 142* (159 balls).
Parsons smashed 25 fours and 4 sixes in his innings as he showed no mercy for the Dragons bowlers, who failed to keep the run-rate in check. Smuts also stroked 23 boundaries in his innings thus far.
The Dragons went into the match without Senuran Muthusamy (injured) which is a big blow to the side. Pace bowler, Bamanye Xenxe, also made his long awaited debut, after being out for months with an injury.
Sarel Erwee (36 from 57 balls) and Tshepang Dithole (8 from 39 balls) put on a 34-run partnership for the first wicket. NW Dragons speedster, Gideon Peters, then played a card right out any decent pace bowler’s book of tricks. He surprised Dithole with raw pace, hitting him on the body, before clean bowling him with the next delivery. It was the perfect setup from the youngster to get the first breakthrough for the Dragons.
Xenxe came into the attack and was rewarded in his second over as Erwee cut the ball straight to Lesiba Ngoepe at backward point.
Marques Ackerman, looked in good touch as he hit (82 off 69 balls) before being trapped LBW by Duan Jansen (2/60). Jansen got the wicket of Jason Smith the very next ball, caught behind.
This was as far as the luck of the draw went for the Dragons as the 293-run partnership took the game right out of the Dragons’ hands.
They will now hope to put on a fight with the bat as they are most likely going to chase over 500 runs in the first innings on day 2 (Thursday, 15 February).
The Dragons are currently in 7th position on the log on 61.08 points and will require a win or draw in order to escape the last position on the log. The Tuskers are currently in eighth position on 38.28 points.
The Dolphins are on 75.28 points and the only unbeaten team in the league. They have drawn four of their matches and one won. A win for the Dragons will push them above the Dolphins, who are currently in fourth position.
