Tough ask for Dolphins in Maritzburg
Dominic Hendricks compiled a fine century before the Highveld Lions reduced the Sunfoil Dolphins to 71/3 by the time bad light forced an early close on the second day of their Sunfoil Series match at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Hendricks completed his second century of the season,
before being dismissed for a mammoth 167 (304 balls, 19 fours, 1 six) as the
visitors declared their first innings closed on 516-5.
The hosts made a wobbly start in response, slipping to 59/3 after the loss of Sarel Erwee (12), Vaughn van Jaarsveld (11) and Khaya Zondo (6).
Opening batsman Imraan Khan, on his return to the team after recovering from a skin complaint, was the one batsman to offer much in the way of resistance for the hosts as he reached the close of play unbeaten on 37 (85 balls, 4 fours).
The Dolphins ended the day still trailing the Lions by 445 runs while 19 overs were unbowled on the day as bad light forced an early close after tea.
There was a wicket apiece for paceman Dwaine Pretorius and the spin duo of Bjorn Fortuin and Alviro Petersen.
The Lions had begun the day on 317-3 and Hendricks and Temba Bavuma continued to take the attack to the bowlers despite a delay during the morning session because of bad light.
Bavuma narrowly missed out on a century when he was dismissed for an aggressive 94 (126 balls, 10 fours).
Hendricks and Bavuma added 199-runs for the fourth-wicket off 42.1 overs before both men were dismissed with the score on 516 to hasten the Lions’ declaration.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj got through a mountain of work for the Dolphins on a flat wicket as he bowled 51 overs before ending with figures of 4-161.
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