Dolphins turn attention to RamSlam

The Dolphins fell 64 runs short of the Cape outfit in their fifty over meeting at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday. 

The side from the Western Cape won the toss and elected to take first strike which quickly backfired as impressive Dolphins opener Craig Alexander had the belligerent Richard Levi caught behind in the first over by keeper Daryn Smit – which was his first of four catches behind the wicket.

The start had the home side on the front foot however a strong stand from the stalwarts Andrew Puttick (68) and Justin Ontong (45) and a cameo from Rory Kleinveldt (36*) at the death gave them a defendable 235 on the board which captain Ryan McLaren believed was achievable batting second under the lights. 

“We were happy chasing 235 tonight and the bowling unit bowled really well so we backed ourselves to chase down 230,” the captain mentioned. “The wicket was on the slow side but with that said we would have backed ourselves to chase that score down.”

Partnerships, once again, eluded the Dolphins on Friday with only one of any significance coming to fruition as Rob Frylinck and Daryn Smit put on 69 for the fifth wicket however wickets fell regularly throughout which has been a problem for them throughout this first part of their 50 over campaign.

“The way we approach batting in one day cricket is to try and get one of our top four to bat through the innings or into the final ten overs which allows the other guys to then capitalise from the other end.

“We haven’t been able to do that in the last few games due to us losing a few more wickets than we would like.

“It’s tough then to come in and score at a quick rate from there,” McLaren explained.

It was a clinical performance from the Cobras who were under pressure early however with cool heads in Puttick and Ontong they managed to dig themselves out of that situation.

“Although they lost a few wickets up front a guy like (Andrew) Puttick is an experienced campaigner and he understands what needs to be done in that type of situation.

“He carried that innings through and showed what we were maybe lacking in, having one guy bat through,” he stressed.

One of the stand out performers for the Sunfoil Dolphins was all-rounder Robbie Frylinck who was rock solid with the ball and top scored with 72 batting higher up the order than he is become accustomed to this season. 

“Coach came to me and said that I would get a chance to bat a bit higher which I have been waiting my turn for and I was quite happy to do the job.


“I came in in a tricky situation where we were well behind the eight ball but they bowled extremely well. Daryn (Smit) and myself pulled it back a bit and we had a nice little partnership but when we wanted to get going we would lose wickets and had to hold back.

“Unfortunately we were just outplayed today,” Frylinck said. 

The Dolphins veteran was good up front with the new ball with partner Craig Alexander (3/41), who was the pick of the bowlers, as they accounted for five of the eight wickets to fall in the Cobras innings.

It is a role that Frylinck has taken on with gusto this season and although he has bowled well he attributes his consistent success to his new ball partner Alexander.

“I am a guy that likes all the challenges and whatever gets thrown my way I like to take it on and give it a good go.

“Craig set us off so well again today so it was easy from my end because because he was building all the pressure early,” Frylinck stated.

The focus for the Sunfoil Dolphins shifts to the RAM Slam T20 Trophy as they begin their campaign away to The Unlimited Titans in Pretoria on Sunday, 1 October.

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