Warriors so unlucky as storm saves Dolphins
THE Dolphins and the rain. Not for the first time in this 2017/18, the elements came to the rescue of Grant Morgan’s side in the final of the Momentum One-Day Cup.
At 154-6, with more than 10 overs still remaining in their innings, the home side were saved by a storm that had been brewing down the coast for more than an hour. It swept in with force, and stopped the Warriors’ march to what looked like a memorable victory.
The men from Port Elizabeth, well coached by Rivash Gobind, will be cursing their rotten luck, as they had the game by the scruff of the neck.
They would have fancied chasing anything that the Dolphins set them, and would have been fancied to seal a characterful run in the second half of the 50-over competition.
Instead, the visitors will have to go again today, as the abandoned final will start again at 1.30pm.
The Dolphins, who lost early wickets, and stayed behind the match for the majority of the 39 overs possible last night, will have a chance to lick their wounds and press the reset button.
The batting, so often a concern this season, will know that they have been given a golden ticket, and they will surely be better at the second time of asking.
While the top-order was blown away, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, batting with a heavily strapped finger, looked in good nick, before he gave it away.
Senuran Muthusamy provided the sensibility with a calm half-century, but there was little else from the Dolphins. The unlucky Warriors will hope the experienced Andrew Birch hits his straps again with the new ball, because he was key to the Dolphins’ struggles.
But, more than anything, the Warriors will hope that the weather stays away, and they get a full chance to secure a trophy on the road.
Another rain-out will see the Dolphins prevail, by virtue of having finished higher on the round-robin table. Play at Kingsmead is scheduled to start at 1:30 pm, with coverage on SuperSport from 1pm.