Dolphins not rained out!
Weather-plagued team still hopes to show their skills
‘IAM NOT checking the weather any more.”
That was Dolphins chief executive Heinrich Strydom yesterday ahead of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ crucial match in the RamSlam T20 Challenge against the VKB Knights in Bloemfontein last night.
But no doubt he put his head in his hands as heavy thunder and lightning called off play at the Mangaung Oval, followed by a huge sigh of relief as play resumed.
Both teams battled it out with the nail-biting result – the Dolphins won by six wickets after scoring 169/4 – paving the way to securing themselves a berth in the semi-finals.
With the crucial win done and dusted, they now take on a rampaging Titans side at Kingsmead tomorrow – as long as the rain gods stay away.
The home team has been swamped with storms and showers and with the all-too-familiar sight of the covers being pulled over the pitch during the T20 Challenge, Strydom said it had been a frustrating few weeks for players.
“It’s been tough. We prepared for the whole of the off-season and the players are raring to go and show off their skills.
“But there is the age-old saying, control the controllable – and in terms of the rain we can’t do anything,” said Strydom.
Commenting on the financial impact of the washed-out matches, Strydom said: “We need to find other ways to make up the losses.
“The players do not lose financially, but they do lose out on showing off their skills, in which they have put every effort to showcase.
“And with all matches washed out at Kingsmead during the last few weeks,” Strydom quipped, “we remain unbeaten at Kingsmead.”
He added: “Sunday is the game to go all-out and I’m sure we are going to see a record crowd. I think it will be an amazing game. We have the firepower and I am optimistic about our chances.”
Earlier in the week, coach Grant Morgan saw another washed-out game on Wednesday, but he has remained calm, saying: “For me it is key that the guys maintain their sense of happiness and we need to all look forward for that little extra.”
In the history of the competition, no side has played so little yet stayed in the game and, while the Titans have pulled ahead with a big lead, there has been a mad scramble for the last three places in the semi-finals.
ON A night of tension in the RamSlam T20 Challenge, the Dolphins looked to their warhorses, and the old dogs didn’t blink under the bright Friday night lights.
Morne van Wyk came back “home” to Bloemfontein and broke hearts, as his 70 not out was the cornerstone of the Dolphins’ six-wicket triumph in a match reduced to 17 overs apiece by rain.
Van Wyk got help from a brutal Dane Vilas and a calm Robbie Frylinck as the Durban franchise kept their title hopes alive.
Having won the toss and elected to field, the Dolphins served up their worst bowling performance of the season, in arguably their most important fixture to date.
There were five wides and massive fluctuation in length. The fielding was also lackadaisical as they allowed too many easy runs for the home side.
Andile Phehlukwayo travelled for a mighty six off his very first ball as Theunis de Bruyn deposited him onto the grandstand roof.
Perhaps that was a sign of things to come because Ryan McLaren plundered 24 runs off the Proteas’ all-rounder’s third and last over.
That was part of a threeover heist from the Knights when they bludgeoned 54 runs to strong-arm their way back into the match.
That assault wiped away the sincere shift put in by Imran Tahir, whose spell of two for 23 looked to have put the Durbanites in charge.
Tahir’s victims were undone by subtle changes of pace; the hitherto untroubled De Bruyn left groping and missing a straight one, while Rudi Second was flummoxed by a classic leg-break.
Alas, Ryan McLaren played a terrific hand (48 not out from 24 balls), while David Miller (46 not out) again stood tall for his adopted franchise to undo Tahir’s web.
The end result was 168 for four, a massive total, even on the sprawling turf that is found in Bloemfontein.
In stark contrast to their visitors, the Knights bowled with bruising intensity. Tearaway Marchant de Lange bowled like the wind, and got rid of Sarel Erwee with a combination of pace and inyour-face “gees”.
The Dolphins needed a hero as they started to drown in the swell of the mounting run-rate.
Van Wyk, back on familiar turf, took it upon himself, smearing and smiting to the fence whenever he could.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld bolted too soon and gifted Eddie Leie a wicket in his opening over.
Vilas, growing in stature by the week in Durban, then blazed a brazen half-century, to get the Dolphins right back in the hunt. His priceless 51 was carved off just 22 balls, with six blows beyond the fence.
When he holed out, Phehlukwayo was gazumped up the order, but lasted just one ball. As he did in Port Elizabeth, he tried too much too soon and disappeared without impact.
It was a time for calm heads and Van Wyk found an ally in the combative Frylinck, who hoisted McLaren over point for six and then edged him past short third-man for four.
That eased the tension and Frylinck’s 27 not out off 14 balls made it look a lot simpler than it was as they got home with three balls to spare.
The Dolphins host the table-topping Titans tomorrow, with a chance to secure a home semi-final providing plenty of motivation.
Meanwhile, the Cape Cobras are certainly not doing boring in this season’s T20 Challenge after yet another thrilling victory over the Titans at a roaring Newlands last night, writes Zaahier Adams.
The visiting defending champions were restricted to 132/9 and the Cape side limped through their run-chase, left requiring 10 runs off the final over with only three wickets remaining, but won by three wickets.