Dolphins cruise to convincing victory over the Cobras
THE Dolphins cruised to the most clinical of victories in Cape Town yesterday, as they pummelled the sorry Cape Cobras by eight wickets in their Sunfoil Series encounter.
So dominant were the men from Durban they won with more than a day to spare, and Capetonians may yet be treated to the unusual sight of coach Lance Klusener tanning himself on Camps Bay’s Fourth Beach.
As unlikely as that scenario may be, many would have said it was just as far-fetched for the Dolphins to pitch up to Newlands, roll the Cobras on the first day for 156 – with spinner Keshav Maharaj helping himself to 6-58 – and then never look back.
This was no pushover Cobras team either, with six of the home side having tasted international experience, and lashings of experience in their ranks.
The Dolphins throttled them with their intensity, and never relented.
Left-armer Maharaj completed a match to remember by adding four second innings’ scalps to his first day haul, to rack up a rare 10-wicket haul by a slow bowler in this season’s Sunfoil Series.
“There is still a lot for us to get out of the season, and it has been encouraging to see a few new faces step up and show what they can do for us,” skipper Morne van Wyk had said in the build-up.
“There are a few exciting fast bowlers in the squad, and they are putting their hands up. We are missing a bit of experience, but these guys are learning all the time.”
One player who has been paying attention is Daryn Dupavillon. The wily speedster has had to kick his heels on occasion this season, but every time he has been handed the ball, he has been the proverbial whole-hearted cricketer.
Yesterday, he got his rewards, snaring four wickets in a spell of sustained fast bowling to ensure the defending four-day champions didn’t recover from their parlous first day offerings.
Chasing 140 to win, the Dolphins’ Divan van Wyk and Imraan Khan (59 not out) added 68 for the opening wicket, before Cody Chetty (37 not out off 43 balls) finished off matters with a flourish.
What will please Klusener most is that the huge win was achieved without the services of Miller, Abbott, McLaren, Tahir, Van Jaarsveld, Frylinck or Alexander. The Dolphins next travel to Centurion, to play the Titans from Thursday.