Lions record eight run victory over Dolphins in Potchefstroom

Alviro Petersen scored a wonderful 107 as the Bizhub Highveld Lions recorded a closer than expected 8 run victory over the Sunfoil Dolphins at Senwes Park this evening.

The Lions were in control for most of the match but a 117 run partnership between Ryan McLaren (62) and Kyle Nipper (55) gave the Dolphins hope. In the end, the Dolphins;’ slow scoring rate in the beginning of their innings came back to haunt them as they could only manage 268/7. A few lusty blows from Khaya Zondo and Keshav Maharaj kept things interesting, but in the end the Lions bowlers kept their nerve.

The Lions’ best bowlers were their young and upcoming pace trio of Pumelela Matshikwe, Matt McGillivray and Sean Jamison.

McGillivray was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4/49 and bowling a good final few overs at the death.

Earlier, the Dolphins won the toss and chose to field on a green pitch hoping to exploit seam movement early on. Stephen Cook went early for 15, but then Petersen and Van der Dussen as well as Petersen and Temba Bavuma added a 50 and 100 partnerships to build the innings.

Petersen and Bavuma were dangerous as a pair and the Dolphins needed a breakthrough desperately.
Petersen and Bavuma though started playing some audacious shots in the middle picking the run rate up from 4 to 4.8 run to the over. Petersen promptly scored his 50 and accelerated towards his century in fine style.

Bavuma in the end fell for 42 runs hitting a shot straight to Cody Chetty at deep mid-wicket. The Lions’ total of 276/7 was competitive and the Dolphins woud have to bat out of their skin.

The Dolphins came close but were behind the eight ball in the chase as the top three batsmen struggled to cope with the Lions’ pacers. Jamison beat the bat regularly and could have had more wickets.

The Lions are now in second place with 19 points after their win, and will face the table topping Cape Cobras in Paarl on Sunday.