Dolphins survive stutter to beat Titans
The Sunfoil Dolphins, thanks to a fine century by Imraan Khan, held their nerve to beat the Nashua Titans by four wickets in a topsy-turvy Momentum One Day Cup match at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday.
Full Scorecard – Dolphins v Titans
Having cruised to 191 for two, they suddenly lost three wickets for eight runs, and the Dolphins looked in danger of relinquishing another winning position, after their narrow loss to the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras earlier in the season.
Khan, back opening and thriving on a feast of half-volleys served up by the visitors, added useful partnerships with Cameron Delport (who made 18), Daryn Smit (34) and Cody Chetty (40), before reaching a composed ton off 116 balls, which was studded with fine drives and savage cuts.
Yet, when he fell, followed qickly by Chetty and then David Miller, the Dolphins were suddenly 199 for five, and in danger of imploding in the same manner as the visitors had.
But, Robbie Frylinck (28) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (15 not out) kept their heads, and the Dolphins eventually secured the four-wicket triumph with eight balls to spare.
Earlier, the Titans had wasted a glorious stand of 142 between Henry Davids (63) and Mangaliso Mosehle (120), as they lost their last nine wickets for just 98 runs, to be bowled out for 250 in 45.4 overs. Mosehle was particularly severe on spinner Prenelan Subrayen, carting him for three sixes in one over.
The Titans' starlet also hooked Lonwabo Tsotsobe for a magnificent six into Castle Corner, as he bludgeoned seven sixes and as many fours in total. Davids, with two sixes of his own, was not holding back at the other end.
When they were rattling along, the Titans looked well on the way to a total well in excess of 300, but they were reined in by some determined home bowling.
Kyle Abbott, back in the side after being dropped against the Chevrolet Knights, took two wickets in as many balls, as he recorded fine figures of 3-44. The opening pair of Tsotsobe and Craig Alexander took two wickets apiece, while the expensive Subrayen exacted some revenge by claiming three wickets at the death.
The match was characterised by some terrible fielding from both sides, with dropped catches, overthrows and fumbles galore.
The Dolphins, though, held their nerve to register a second successive win, and Abbott sealed the victory in style, hoisting CJ de Villiers over deep square leg for six.
SUNFOIL DOLPHINS: Cameron Delport, Imraan Khan, Daryn Smit (wk/c), Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Robbie Frylinck, Kyle Abbott, Prenelan Subrayen, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Craig Alexander.
NASHUA TITANS: Henry Davids, Heino Kuhn (wk), Mangaliso Mosehle, Martin van Jaarsveld, Albie Morkel, David Wiese, Roelof van der Merwe, CJ de Villiers, Paul Harris, Rowan Richards.
