Dolphins stumble in run chase at the Wanderers
Updated | By Gameplan Media
The Sunfoil Dolphins stumbled to a nail-biting six runs defeat at the hands of the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, falling short of chasing down a modest target of 146 runs for victory.
After doing a solid job restricting the home side to 145/6, the Sunfoil Dolphins put together a promising 45 run first wicket stand before Morne van Wyk fell. His fellow opener Vaughn Van Jaarsveld departed with the total on 70 but leaving the Dolphins well poised to chase down the required runs.
David Miller looked set to spearhead that charge until he fell for 37 off 25 balls, leaving the game precariously poised at 121/5.
It was Dwayne Pretorius who turned the game around for the home side, taking
Miller’s prized scalp clean bowled, and then skittling Dwayne Bravo for just 2
that started the rot. He went on to take a career best 4 for 22 to take the
match away from the Sunfoil Dolphins.
Ryan McLaren completed a solid match by anchoring a brave charge at the run
chase, but when he departed for 13, the match fell into the grip of the Gauteng
franchise, which duly closed out the affair with Lonwabo Tsostobe’s final over.
Earlier in the day, Morne van Wyk had no hesitation in putting the home side in
to bat at a ground that traditionally favours the chasers. Early wickets looked
to underscore that decision, but a circumspect and intelligent 60 off 41
balls from Alviro Petersen made sure the Lions had a reasonable total to
defend.
McLaren bowled purposefully, finishing with 2/33, while tight bowling from
Andile Phehlukwayo and Keshav Maharaj ensured that the Lions finished short of
the 150 mark, and set an appealing target that the Dolphins, anxious to end a
winless streak, would have felt quietly confident they could chase down.
Aaron Phangiso grabbed two early wickets, but the Dolphins middle order
couldn’t put together meaningful partnerships, despite the relatively modest
run rate asked.
Hardus Viljoen was miserly and took the wicket of Morne van Wyk, but when blond
Pretorius accounted for dangermen Miller and Bravo, and then ran through the
lower middle order, the home side closed out the tight match to secure
important points that keeps them in the hunt for the Ram Slam T20 playoffs.
For the Sunfoil Dolphins the defeat extends their frustrating winless streak
since overseas pro Kevin Pietersen left the squad, and they will head to Port
Elizabeth on Saturday to play the out-of-sorts Knights eager to arrest their
slide and maintain their sights set on the RamSlam T20 playoffs.
Twitter - @gazza_jenks @ECRSportswave @SportswaveAndre
Facebook - ECRSportswave
Image Credit - Gallo Images
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