Dolphins dig in in Bloemfontein
by Ant Sims 22 December 2012, 17:45
The Sunfoil Series match between the Chevrolet Knights and the Sunfoil Dolphins continued to seesaw on day three at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Live Scoring – Knights v Dolphins
Despite finding themselves in a bit of a pickle, the Dolphins fought back and batted out the day to set up an enticing contest on the final day.
The Knights resumed day three on 465-9, with tailenders Malusi Siboto and Shadley van Schalkwyk still at the crease. The pair added 33 runs before Van Schalkwyk was caught by wicketkeeper Daryn Smit off the bowling of Imraan Khan to end the Knights' innings on 498, a first-innings lead of 277 runs.
The home side's opening bowlers struck early on as Siboto rattled Divan van Wyk's stumps in the fourth over and he was sent on his way for five while Johan van der Wath, a hero with the bat with his first-innings score of 154, dismissed Jonathan Vandiar in the fifth over.
Khan and Vaughn van Jaarsveld dug in for a 104-run partnership, before Van Jaarsveld edged through to the keeper off Van Schalkwyk’s bowling after adding 40.
Khan continued to stand firm and added 90 before he too edged through to the keeper, off Siboto’s bowling. At 155-4, the Dolphins still had plenty of work ahead of them when Khaya Zondo and Cody Chetty got together in the middle.
The two survived until tea, with the Dolphins on 163-4, still 116 runs short of making the Knights bat again.
Chetty was run out shortly after the break for 24, but Zondo got stuck in and survived until the close of play, notching up a valiant unbeaten 53 off 151 balls.
Skipper Smit stood firm, adding 16 off 59 as the Dolphins ended day three on 252-5, just 25 runs behind the Knights.
Report Day 1
Report Day 2
Teams:
Knights: Dean Elgar (capt), Michael Erlank, Rilee Rossouw, Rudi Second (wkt), Ryan Bailey, Obus Pienaar, Werner Coetsee, Dillon du Preez, Johan van der Wath, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Malusi Siboto.
Dolphins: Divan van Wyk, Imraan Khan, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Khaya Zondo, Cody Chetty, Daryn Smit (capt/wkt) Kyle Abbott, Calvin Savage, Mthokozisi Shezi, Craig Alexander.
