Durban - A half century from Cody Chetty, and three afternoon wickets from Robbie Frylinck put the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in a strong position at the end of day one of their 4-Day Franchise Series clash with the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Monday.
The Dolphins were asked to bat first by the hosts on an overcast morning in the Mother City and despite losing Vaughn van Jaarsveld early, Cody Chetty and Sarel Erwee steadied the ship well early on.
After Van Jaarsveld departed for six, the Dolphins added 75 runs before Erwee was the second man out. He was LBW to Mthiwekhaya Nabe for 35 from 63 deliveries.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins captain Khaya Zondo didn’t last long as was caught by the wicket keeper Kyle Verreynne off the bowling of spinner Dane Piedt for nine.
Chetty went to is half century off 67 deliveries and it included 10 fours. He and Dane Vilas continued to build a base for the Dolphins but with the score on 143 Chetty fell.
He was also caught by the keeper Verreynne, this time off the bowling Tladi Bokako for 71.
Sibs Makhayna followed Chetty back to the change room without scoring and Vilas then succumbed to Dane Paterson for 27, the Dolphins were 162/6.
Keshav Maharaj was dismissed for 10 with the total on 180 and then Rob Frylinck became Verreynne’s fourth victim behind the wicket, caught for 15.
Young Eathan Bosch played a cameo innings towards the back end of the Dolphins' stay at the crease. He added 34 runs with the final two batsmen Okuhle Cele and Kerwin Mungroo.
In the end the Dolphins were bowled out for 225.
The Dolphins needed to strike early with the ball and they did. Rob Frylinck bowled Jannaman Malan for six.
Frylinck then produced two more moments of magic to pick up two wickets in two balls when Zubayr Hamza was caught by captain Zondo for 17 and he was joined next ball by David Bedingham, LBW for a duck.
At that stage the Cobras were 44/3 and Pieter Malan was in the company of Aviwe Mgijima, however the latter was also dismissed without scoring - caught by wicket-keeper Dane Vilas off the bowling of Okuhle Cele.
The Dolphins would have been disappointed that bad light brought a premature end to the day's play with the hosts 45/4.
They trail the Dolphins by 180 runs.
For more information visit www.dolphinscricket.co.za.
SUMMARY OF THE DAY ONE SCORE - WSB Cape Cobras v Hollywoodbets Dolphins
Dolphins 1st Innings 225 all out (Cody Chetty 71, SJ Erwee 35, Eathan Bosch 31)
Cobras 1st Innings 45/4 (Rob Frylinck 3/20)
Cobras trail by 180 runs