Mungroo and Dudgeon put Dolphins ahead
Career-best figures by Dwaine Pretorius were outdone by a riveting bowling display from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins seamers as they seized control on the second day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter against the bizhub Highveld Lions in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The all-rounder produced the outstanding return of six for 38 in 18.5 overs, before claiming a further two for 10 in nine second-innings overs, but still his side were staring down the barrel at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.
This was after a dismal first-innings performance with the bat saw them rolled over for a paltry 134 as they replied to 303 all out – Kerwin Mungroo (3/35) and Keith Dudgeon (3/40) excelling for the away side.
The Dolphins then reached the halfway stage of the game at 119 for five – a healthy 288 runs ahead of the Lions.
It completed a hectic day two in which a total of 19 wickets tumbled, starting with a mammoth collapse of four wickets for one run for the KwaZulu-Natal franchise.
They began the day in a powerful position on 302 for six with captain Khaya Zondo well set thanks to his 10th career hundred and Keshav Maharaj with him as the pair looked to build on their 54-run overnight stand.
But the pair, as well as Eathan Bosch (0) and Dudgeon (0), lasted all but 23 deliveries and the addition of one run as the visiting side collapsed.
Zondo ended as top-scorer with 114 (220 balls, 16 fours, 3 sixes).
Mungroo, Dudgeon and Andile Phehlukwayo (2/27) then ran riot as the Lions battled to put up any sort of fight.
Only Wihan Lubbe (34) made any sort of meaningful contribution as they slumped to 104 for nine at one stage, before Craig Alexander (20 not out) got them to a more respectable score in in 41.5 overs.
The Dolphins coasted along in their second innings reaching 60 for none thanks to Vaughn van Jaarsveld (33) and Sarel Erwee (31).
But they lost five wickets in the last 22 overs thereafter, including that of skipper Zondo for 28, although they still ended the day in control.