Lions let Dolphins off the hook

Home side put to the sword by Zondo as they lose their intensity in final session

WHATEVER went into the Highveld Lions’ tea yesterday afternoon needs to be rapidly removed from the menu.

For the first two sessions of play in this Four-Day Franchise match, the home team dominated after Khaya Zondo had called correctly at the toss and chose to bat first. The Lions were on top in the first hour with Beuran Hendricks continuing what has been an excellent season from him, with a high quality sevenover opening spell. His reward was the wicket of Sarel Erwee with a fine delivery that swung away then edged to third slip.

Dwaine Pretorius dismissed Vaughn van Jaarsveld in the first hour as well, and despite an 88-run stand for the third wicket between Cody Chetty and Zondo, the Lions remained largely in control heading into the afternoon session.

The discipline they’d shown in that first session and in the hour after lunch bore fruit as the Dolphins lost three wickets for 15 runs in just six overs. Chetty got a faint outside edge to one that left him off the pitch from Pretorius after he’d made 65, while Sibonelo Makhanya (0) and Grant Roelofson (5) didn’t cause the hosts much bother.

Zondo and Andile Phehlukwayo played carefully up until tea. Thereafter the day turned the visitors’ way.

The Lions seemed to take their foot off the gas after the break, looking merely to dry up the runs until the second new ball. It was a strange tactic and Phehlukwayo and Zondo duly punished them.

The former, dropped on 25 at slip by Reeza Hendricks off Aaron Phangiso, took 12 runs off an over from Nono Pongolo to set the turnaround in motion.

Phangiso conceded three sixes, two of which, by Zondo, required the umpires to replace the ball. Phehlukwayo was eventually bowled between bat and pad by Phangiso for a well made 57, an innings that indicated again that he has a lot to offer as a batsman. He was at the crease for over two hours, faced 85 balls and struck 11 fours and a six.

His partnership with the resilient Zondo was 116. By the time play was stopped for bad light, Zondo had been at the crease for close to five hours and was unbeaten on 114.

Zondo will resume this morning with Keshav Maharaj (23*) as the Dolphins (302/6) seek to further take advantage after being let off the hook by the Lions.