Keshav Maharaj’s stunning seven wickets in the second innings propelled the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a sensational first victory in this Sunfoil Series campaign, defeating the Warriors by 55 runs at the historic St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
After a lukewarm start in their first innings, the Dolphins displayed resilience and skill across three solid days, setting themselves up in a strong position with the bat and then dismantling the Warriors’ batting line-up in the second innings to seal an important win.
The final day saw the Warriors chasing 114 runs with just four wickets remaining, but were eventually bowled out. Clyde Fortuin and Simon Harmer opened the innings, steadily chipping away at the target before Fortuin was dismissed lbw by Senuran Muthusamy for 15.
Aya Gqamane joined Harmer and tried to accelerate the scoring, reaching 12 runs off nine balls before Maharaj took his sixth wicket. Maharaj then struck with first-ball dismissal of Tladi Bokako, achieving his best-ever first-class match figures of 7/76.
Anrich Nortje was last man standing, but with the Warriors needing 74 runs, he was run out for 3, handing the Dolphins a well-deserved victory.
Highlights of the match included Vaughn van Jaarsveld’s superb second innings century and Kerwin Mungroo’s maiden franchise five-wicket haul, which boosted the Dolphins after a slow first innings total of 145.
The Dolphins compiled 344 runs in their second innings, with Van Jaarsveld’s century supported by half-centuries from openers Sarel Erwee and Morné van Wyk, as well as Sibs Makhanya.
This victory lifts the Dolphins temporarily to third place on the Sunfoil Series log, with other matches in progress.
After a break this week, the Dolphins will continue their campaign against the WSB Cape Cobras in Pietermaritzburg on 1 March.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs Warriors
Played at St George’s Park
Dolphins 145 (Harmer 6/47)
Warriors 204 (Mungroo 5/45)
Dolphins 344 (Van Jaarsveld 110, Makhanya 68, Van Wyk 58, Erwee 52, Harmer 6/101)
Warriors 230 (Ackerman 63, Maharaj 7/76)
Dolphins triumphed by 55 runs
For more details, visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
