Durban – What a sensational day at Kingsmead! The Hollywoodbets Dolphins seized an incredible opportunity to secure a home semi-final in the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge, smashing the Multiply Titans by a commanding 89 runs.
This thrilling victory, paired with a rain-affected stalemate at the Wanderers between the Lions and Knights, along with the Cobras falling short by 18 runs against the Warriors in East London, thrusts the Durban Dolphins up to second place on the log. They’re set to take on the Cobras at Kingsmead on Thursday, while the Titans will battle the Warriors in the first semi-final on Wednesday.
The match saw weather interruptions, marking the sixth rain disruption for the Dolphins this season. But this time, the rain played no spoilsport as the hosts were so far ahead that the delay was merely a pause before the inevitable triumphant finish.
Bolstered by a powerhouse top-order performance, tight bowling from all seven bowlers, and a disappointing showing from an understrength Titans side, the Dolphins posted a formidable 168 for seven. When rain returned, the Titans were precariously placed at 39 for six in the 12th over.
The Titans eventually crumbled to 79 all out, a performance far removed from their usual dominance, undoubtedly affected by the absence of key players travelling from Pretoria.
Morne van Wyk was the star of the day for the Dolphins, with his brilliant 67 runs setting a solid foundation. Impressive bowling displays across the board kept the Titans under constant pressure, with Imraan Tahir’s economical four overs yielding two wickets and a spectacular diving catch that wowed the crowd.
Other notable bowling efforts came from Prenelan Subrayen and Keshav Maharaj, who each bagged two wickets. The Titans’ highest scorers were Rivaldo Moonsamy and Tabraiz Shamsi, both managing just 15 runs.
The Dolphins elected to bat first despite missing several bowling stalwarts like Albie Morkel, Aiden Markram, and Lungi Ngidi – all rested ahead of upcoming challenges. The Titans also fielded without key Proteas stars AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, and Farhaan Behardien.
Opening batsmen van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld laid down the gauntlet early with a quick 50-run partnership within the first six overs, only slightly hindered by some uncharacteristic drops from the Titans’ fielders.
With excellent fielding and some brilliant catches, especially from Shaun Vonberg who dismissed Van Jaarsveld and Dane Vilas in quick succession, the Dolphins maintained their grip on the match.
Van Wyk’s steady and aggressive innings of 69 runs from 41 balls, including ten boundaries, provided the backbone of the Dolphins’ innings before falling in the 16th over.
Despite a late wobble in the run rate after van Wyk’s departure, the Dolphins finished strong at 168. The Titans, in contrast, couldn’t find their rhythm and were all out well before the end of the innings.
