On an emphatic final day at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, the WSB Cape Cobras soared to victory, chasing down a target of 227 to claim an eight-wicket win over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in their Sunfoil Series clash.
Sunday saw the Dolphins continue their innings with the score standing at 260/8, holding a strong lead of 195 runs. The resilient duo at the crease, Rob Frylinck and Rabian Engelbrecht, started the day with a steady partnership.
Engelbrecht gave a spirited performance, contributing 21 runs before being dismissed by Junaid Dawood. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the tail did not wag with Kerwin Mungroo falling quickly, caught by Andrew Puttick off Dane Paterson for a duck, marking the innings’ end.
Rob Frylinck shone brightly, remaining unbeaten with a crucial 50 not out in the second innings after an impressive 65 not out in the first, underlining his importance in the game’s latter stages.
Set a challenging 227 to win, the Cobras began their chase cautiously, with early wickets falling as Pieter Malan and Andrew Puttick made 18 and 20 runs respectively, bringing the score to 78.
Hope flickered for the Dolphins, but the partnership between Zubayr Hamza and Stiaan van Zyl extinguished it, as they put on a commanding 149 runs for the third wicket, steering their team comfortably towards victory.
Hamza’s elegant century, featuring 19 boundaries, was the standout performance, scoring 109 runs off 182 balls, which decisively turned the tide in the Cobras’ favour.
Van Zyl’s support was invaluable, scoring his second half-century of the match with 66 not out from 99 deliveries, completing the emphatic win for the Cobras.
Looking ahead, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins are set to take on the bizhub Highveld Lions at the Wanderers from March 15 to 18, promising another exciting encounter.
For further details, visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
