Inspirational Abbot puts Dolphins on top
by Fanie Heyns 05 October 2012, 17:27
The Sunfoil Dolphins were in cruise control on 57 for two, an overall lead of 199 runs, at stumps on Friday after Kyle Abbott grabbed six wickets against the Chevrolet Warriors in their Sunfoil Series match at Buffalo Park in East London.
The Dolphins scored 296 in their first innings on Thursday. Resuming on Friday, the Warriors looked comfortable on 102 for three, but collapsed against the brilliant swing bowling by Abbott and were dismissed for 154. That gave the Dolphins a first-innings lead of 142 runs.
Abbott claimed 6-64 in 18.5 overs. He used reverse swing and swing bowling after lunch to dismantle the batting-order of the Warriors as they lost their final seven wickets for 52 runs.
His line and length was impeccable and the Warriors simply failed to deal with the prodigious swing.
Dolphins opener Divan van Wyk hit three fours in his short stay at the crease before he was caught in the gully by a diving Simon Harmer for 15.
Imraan Khan joined Van Wyk in the pavilion when Ashwell Prince caught him at slip off the off-spinner Harmer for 17. He faced 51 balls and scored three fours.
Jonathan Vandiar, on 20, and Cody Chetty, on four, will resume on Saturday.
The Dolphins’ progress was curtailed by bad light after tea on Friday.
But the day belonged to Abbott.
Jon-Jon Smuts and Michael Price did not give the spectators a hint of what was to come, as they shared in an 80-run partnership for the second wicket in the morning session, taking the Warriors to 87 for one.
Prenelan Subrayen then took a return catch to remove Smuts for 45. He faced 87 deliveries and hit seven boundaries.
After lunch, Abbott struck three times in the space of 11 deliveries to reduce the Warriors to 111 for six.
He had Prince caught at second slip by Vaughn van Jaarsveld for six.
In his next over, he removed Price, who was trapped in front for 44. He faced 111 balls and scored six fours.
Abbott bowled Kelly Smuts for three and was on a hat-trick before he was denied a special place in the record books by the defending Athenkosi Dyili.
Dyili was run out for 11 after a mix-up with Colin Ingram.
Ingram then succumbed to Subrayen’s arm ball and was gone for 18.
Abbott denied the Warriors the opportunity to produce any miracles through their lower order as he bowled Andrew Birch for two and had Gurshwin Rabie caught at short leg by Van Wyk for a duck.
Subrayen captured 2-49 in 17 overs.
The Warriors would have been distraught at their batting implosion, as they have several high-profile batsmen.
Report Day 1
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Davy Jacobs (capt), Michael Price, JJ Smuts, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Kelly Smuts, Athenkosi Dyili, Simon Harmer, Andrew Birch, Basheer Walters, Gurshwin Rabie.
SUNFOIL DOLPHINS: Daryn Smit (capt), Imraan Khan, Divan van Wyk, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Prenelan Subrayen, Dane Paterson, Kyle Abbott, Craig Alexander.
