A classy partnership of 112 between Sibonelo Makhanya and Khaya Zondo helped the Dolphins to beat the Titans by 35 runs in a Momentum One Day Cup game at Kingsmead on Thursday night.
Imraan Khan’s side recorded their sixth win in seven games to remain at the top of the One Day Cup standings. One has to fancy that the One Day Cup is now theirs to lose. Although it does remain to be seen how the team will fare without captain and key player Keshav Maharaj who is joining the Proteas One Day team for the upcoming games against Australia.
After winning the toss, Maharaj elected to bat on the slow Kingsmead wicket. The Dolphins started their innings well with in-form opening pair Grant Roelofsen and Sarel Erwee rotating the strike and doing a good job in terms of playing the new ball.
Roelofsen looked confident at the crease and destined to record yet another 50 plus score before he was dismissed by Junior Dala after pulling the ball to Aiden Markram. Erwee followed up his century against the Warriors last weekend with a crisp 68 before mistiming a shot from the bowling of Aiden Markram. Markram would strike again when he clean-bowled Marques Ackerman for 31 in the 32nd over.
The run-rate was significantly decreased following Erwee’s dismissal as the Dolphins went 56 deliveries without scoring a boundary between the 26th and 36th over. The Titans looked like they were on top when Markram dismissed Senuran Muthusamy for 20 but Khaya Zondo (60) and Sibonelo Makhanya (60) ensured that the Dolphins would post a commanding total with their clean hitting.
Both Makhanya and Zondo were dismissed in the final over after trying to smash Junior Dala. In typical fashion, Robbie Frylinck hit two sixes from the final three balls to take the Dolphins to 308/6 from their 50 overs.
The Titans made a steady start to their batting before Diego Rosier was dismissed with the score on 21 after he edged to keeper Roelofsen from the bowling of Frylinck. Grant Thomson and Markram had a steady stand of 46 for the second wicket before the former was dismissed by Okuhle Cele. Following a short rain delay, the Titans innings was reduced to 46 overs with the revised target being 295.
Markram who was returning from injury looked a bit rusty as he made 36 (4x1). The opening batsman who was the top scorer in the One Day Cup last season was eventually stumped by Roelofsen from the bowling of Maharaj after he stepped out of his crease.
One got the sense that the Dolphins were firmly on top when Daryn Dupavillon dismissed Dean Elgar for 20 in the 26th over. Tony De Zorzi and Rivaldo Moonsamy had an entertaining partnership of 77 and brought the Titans back into the game. De Zorzi was dismissed 54 after Erwee delivered a stunning catch from the bowling of Frylinck. Moonsamy
In the end, the Titans lower order were left with a difficult task and the Dolphins completed another deserved win. The Titans ended up being bowled out in the final over with Maharaj fittingly capturing the final two wickets before heading to national team duty with the Proteas.