Dolphins seek momentum in Sunfoil Series
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins hope to build momentum as they eye the top spot on the Sunfoil Series standings.
Despite a draw with the Warriors in Durban over the weekend, the Dolphins consolidated their second place position on the four day series standings while a number of players put in promising performances to start the year off well.
Coach Grant Morgan was pleased with his charges effort in a match that was stymied by a day and half of bad weather at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
Two players were particularly impressive, one of whom looks to be a star of the future. Senuran Muthusamy took 4-49 and went on to open the batting lineup for the Dolphins, a big ask after a big performance with the ball in hand.
Vaughn van Jaarsveld backed him up with the bat – scoring 154 before he was dismissed in the first innings. The Dolphins coach said he expected more of the same from Van Jaarsveld this year.
“Vaughn is that kind of player but he mustn’t get comfortable, he should get used to performances like that, god has given him that talent,” Morgan said.
The coach had more praise for Muthusamy, who is one of two young Dolphins players to be named in the CSA National Academy this year – the other being 19-year-old Okuhle Cele. A genuine all-rounder, Morgan believes Muthusamy will have a big career ahead of him.
“Sen is surprising a lot of guys. They don’t quite know him yet and he is better than they think. They underestimate him and he is just doing the basics well. He’s a different kind of exciting cricketer,” Morgan said.
“The story of Sen is great, he’s got a positive differential on his statistics – he averages 22 with the bat and 28 with the ball. In a young career, that is very special and both of his disciplines should improve. He’s becoming a total all-rounder and he totally deserves to be going to the national academy.”
Morgan will be banking on those two players to continue their good form when they take on the Knights in Kimberley from Thursday. A win could see them leapfrog the Titans at the top of the log – if the current leaders falter in their clash against the Highveld Lions.
The Durban outfit is unchanged for the weekend's match - with the likes of Proteas spinner Imran Tahir still out injured.