Dolphins in front as bowlers hold sway
by Brendon Atwell 31 January 2013, 17:55
The Sunfoil Dolphins ended day one of their Sunfoil Series match against the Chevrolet Warriors on 170 for five, a lead of 78 runs, at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
The hosts had resumed after tea on 87 for two, with Jonathan Vandiar and Vaughn van Jaarsveld at the crease.
Vandiar added 20 runs to his tea-time total before being spectacularly caught by Davy Jacobs at first slip, off the bowling of Gurshwin Rabie for 31.
The Warriors resorted to bowling bouncers to try and dry up the runs, although conceding 20 extras did not help their cause. The visitors managed to keep the run-rate low and picked up wickets at critical times.
Cody Chetty spent eight minutes short of an hour at the crease, managing only five runs before Ayabulela Gqamane snuck through his defences and nicked his off stump.
The Warriors then sent in their bowling hero, Mthokozisi Shezi, as night watchman, who faced ten deliveries to see out the day.
Wayne Parnell, who made the initial breakthrough before tea when he removed Imraan Khan (38), ended the day with 2-27, after dismissing Van Jaarsveld (21), caught behind by Adrian McLaren.
Khan added 58 runs for the first wicket with Divan van Wyk (26), after starting off the innings in a brisk fashion, scoring at five runs per over at times.
The Warriors, who were sent in to bat, were dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 92, with Shezi the chief destroyer, claiming 5-28 in 10.2 overs.
Shezi did all the damage up front, claiming four of his wickets in his first four overs, to leave the visitors reeling on 20 for five.
Kyle Abbott and Craig Alexander shared the remaining five wickets with Abbott claiming 3-19, while Alexander ended with 2-34.
Alexander was dealt with harshly in the penultimate over before lunch, as Gqamane, who top scored with 29, dispatched him for 15 runs.
Gqamane faced only 30 deliveries while striking two fours and two sixes in a face-saving effort coming in at number ten.
Parnell (19), Colin Ingram (15) and Simon Harmer (11) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
The Warriors, looking for a victory in this match to stay in contention for the Sunfoil Series title, will be absolutely distraught at having batted so badly and not claiming any batting points.
The home side though claimed all four bowling bonus points for dismissing the Warriors.
The visitors will need to strike early on the second day and ensure that the deficit they will face will not be too large as Khaye Zondo, on 28 not out, will look to build on the lead in conjunction with the Dolphins' lower order.
SUNFOIL DOLPHINS: Divan van Wyk, Imraan Khan, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Cody Chetty, Khayelihle Zondo, Daryn Smit (w/k capt), Kyle Abbott, Calvin Savage, Craig Alexander, Mthokozisi Shezi.
CHEVROLET WARRIORS: Michael Price, Davy Jacobs (capt), Arno Jacobs, Ashwell Prince, Colin Ingram, Wayne Parnell, Adrian McLaren (w/k), Simon Harmer, Andrew Birch, Ayabulela Gqamane, Gurshwin Rabie.
