The Hollywoodbets Dolphins faced a tough challenge on Day One of their Sunfoil Series encounter against the Warriors at Port Elizabeth’s St Georges Park, bowled out for a modest 145 runs on a pitch that surprisingly saw fourteen wickets tumble throughout the day.
Winning the toss, captain Keshav Maharaj chose to bat first but was met with early setbacks as Warriors’ lightning-fast bowler Anrich Nortje swiftly dismantled the opening pair of SJ Erwee and Morné van Wyk within the first ten overs.
Resilient Vaughn van Jaarsveld partnered with Senuren Muthusamy to steady the innings, but it was off-spinner Simon Harmer who turned the tide for the home side, stunning the Dolphins by taking two wickets in just three deliveries.
Harmer’s spell was fiery and effective, finishing with figures of six wickets for 47 runs in 22.2 overs, forcing the Dolphins to the pavilion before tea on the opening day.
Both Muthusamy and Van Jaarsveld reached the forties, yet the Dolphins struggled to build on their partnerships and gain momentum against a clinical Warriors bowling attack.
Responding to the total, Dolphins’ Inland bowler Kerwin Mungroo made an early impact by dismissing Warriors opener Matthew Breetzke for just four runs in the fourth over.
The Dolphins’ bowling staff shared the honours nicely, taking four wickets before stumps, with Maharaj, Mthozisi Shezi, and Robbie Frylinck chipping in crucial dismissals to have the Warriors at 100 for 4, still 45 runs behind, with six wickets remaining in the first innings.
For more details, check out www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
