Centurion -
A team bowling effort, led by Kyle Abbott with 3/54 and Robbie Frylinck’s 2/39, ensured the Dolphins scored an important and thrilling victory when they beat the Titans in their One-day Cup clash at SuperSport Park by three runs.
The Titan’s chase started poorly, with Heino Kuhn snaffled at slip for three off Lonwarbo Tsotsobe, then Mangaliso Mosehle played some eye catching strokes before he chopped on off Mthokozisi Shezi for 12.
Henry Davids and captain Martin van Jaarsveld put on 46 for the third wicket before the veteran was well caught by Dolphins captain Daryn Smit, off Abbott via a bottom edge.
Abbott also accounted for Farhaan Behardien, caught behind for 19, and Albie Morkel, trapped leg before after scoring five.
Davids was bowled in the 36th over for 76 by Robbie Frylinck which swung the game the Dolphins' way, as he and David Wiese had been threatening up to that point with a partnership of 55.
Roelf van der Merwe quickly followed Davids but Wiese hit boundaries all round the oval as the Titans faced a stiff asking rate of beyond eight-a-over for the last nine overs of the match.
When Wiese was caught, having scored 71 off 49 balls, 25 was needed off 20 balls. Eden Links and JP de Villiers got the Titans needing seven off the last over only for De Villiers to be run out going for a single. The Titans needed four off the final ball but could only manage a single, leaving the Dolphins as the winners in one of the games of the seasons.
Earlier, the Dolphins were put in to bat by Van Jaarsveld following the toss under overcast skies. Imraan Khan was dismissed after being squared up by Morkel for 22, and Smit along with Vaughn van Jaarsveld both departed cheaply before Cody Chetty offered the visitors solidity from number five.
He and opener Divan van Wyk combined for 88 runs and the Dolphins pushed to 143/3 in the 31st over before Van Wyk was caught off Rowan Richards to depart for a well played 54. David Miller was cleaned up by PJ de Villiers for 12.
His dismissal brought Frylinck to the crease. His arrival spurred Chetty to play more aggressively, the use of his wrists a highlight in his innings.
However, Chetty soon edged behind off Morkel for 78, his highest ever one day score. It was left to Frylinck, supported by Kyle Abbot, to ensure the Dolphins reached a total they could defend.
Both men hit boundaries, and after Abbott went out for 29, Frylinck continued his assault as further wickets fell around him.
Frylinck managed to thump a couple of sixes and a four off Roelf van der Merwe in the final over to boost the Dolphins to 264/8, with Frylink finishing on 46 off 31 balls. For the Titans, Albie Morkel’s 3/41 in his 10 overs was the best performance with the ball. - Sapa