Dolphins recover after early trouble
by Pete le Grange 18 October 2012, 18:00
The Sunfoil Dolphins ended on 179 for five on a shortened opening day of their Sunfoil Series match against the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.
Resuming on 116 for four after tea, Cody Chetty could add just seven runs before playing on to Johann Louw.
This ended a partnership of 102, compiled in 29 overs, after the Dolphins had been teetering on 25 for four earlier in the day.
Chetty played an attractive innings of 59 (105 balls, 7 fours 1 six) and is becoming a dependable part of the Dolphins' middle order.
The Cobras could not make any further inroads. Divan van Wyk was solid, ending the day on 82 not out (177 balls, 12 fours).
Interestingly, his fifty came off the same number of balls as that of Chetty (88) although he spent almost an hour longer at the crease in order to reach the milestone.
By the close of play, he and the dogged Dolphins captain Daryn Smit had added another 52.
Smit was patience personified, facing 92 balls in scoring just 19. It was clear that he did not want to give the opponents any quarter at the end of the day.
Rory Kleinveldt was unable to add to his three early wickets, but was hard to score off.
Vernon Philander and Justin Kemp were also economical, but offspinner Dane Piedt took a bit of a hammering.
The new ball will become available early on day 2 and the visitors will be looking for similar success.
Earlier in the day, the first session was lost due to a wet patch in the outfield. When play did start after lunch, the Dolphins were soon in trouble after choosing to bat first.
Kleinveldt swept through the top order and David Miller was suckered into an ill-advised hook, before van Wyk and Chetty started the fightback.
The Dolphins have earned 1.58 bonus points to date and the Cobras 2.
DOLPHINS:
Imraan Khan, Divan van Wyk, Jonathan Vandiar, David Miller, Daryn Smit (captain), Cody Chetty, Kyle Abbott, Prenelan Subrayen, Craig Alexander, Mthokozisi Shezi
CAPE COBRAS:
Alistair Gray, Andrew Puttick, Stiaan van Zyl, Justin Ontong (captain), Justin Kemp, Yaseen Vallie, Dane Vilas, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Piedt. Johann Louw
