Chetty knock powers Dolphins to victory
by Thahir Asmal 22 February 2012, 21:19
An exceptional maiden half century from Cody Chetty proved key as the Sunfoil Dolphins made it two wins out of two with a hard-fought eight-run victory over the Chevrolet Knights in their MiWay T20 Challenge match at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
Full Scoring
The young right-hander, better known for his solidity rather than his flamboyance, showed a bit of both as he manufactured a magnificent 82 off 50 balls, including four sixes and six fours, to help the visitors reach 184 for six batting first.
Proteas batsman David Miller made 40 off 25, while Loots Bosman ended with 25 off 18.
In reply, Rilee Rossouw struck 57 off 38 ball and Ryan Bailey hit a valiant unbeaten 50 off 29, but the hosts could manage only 176 for five.
Proteas legspinner Imran Tahir ended as the pick of the bowlers with two for 29, but he and the rest of the Dolphins attacked owed a lot to Chetty after he helped them set a total that was four shy of the highest ever T20 score at the Free State ground.
Their effort looked improbable at the start, though, and after winning the toss and batting, they lost captain Imraan Khan (four) in the first over when he tried to flick Johan van der Wath (2-36) down the leg side and succeeded only in feathering an edge to wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk.
Ahmed Amla, back after over two months out due to injury, was in next and smashed a quick-fire 11, before a leading edge off Van der Wath was easily collected by Ryan Bailey running back from mid off.
Despite the two early wickets, the men from Durban managed to maintain the high run rate and when Bosman flicked Ryan McLaren for six over deep square leg, the 50 was up inside six overs.
Along with Cody Chetty, they put on 42 together in 29 balls before Bosman skied Roman Terblanche to McLaren at cover.
The wicket of Vaughn van Jaarsveld (seven) followed shortly after, caught by Bailey off Jandre Coetzee, before successive boundaries from Chetty took the Dolphins past 100 in the 12th over.
The young batsman reached his first T20 half-century with a single, getting there from 32 balls, before finding a capable partner in Miller.
The two then upped the ante with 50 in 33 balls as the Dolphins cruised past 150 in the 18th over, which went for 17 thanks to two more maximums from Chetty off Werner Coetsee.
He was eventually run out at the non-striker's end as the visitors sought quick runs, before Miller too fell as the innings ended on a low-key note.
In reply, Van Wyk (four) cut Mthokozisi Shezi’s first ball loosener away for four, but the bowler had his man next ball, which came off the gloves of the batsman and looped gently to Daryn Smit behind the stumps.
But Obus Pienaar and Rossouw steadily rebuilt to put the home side back on course.
South Africa ace Tahir was introduced in the seventh over and his first ball was flicked for six by Pienaar as the Knights went past 50.
The half-century stand came up in 41 balls, but after putting on 71 together, Pienaar picked out Miller in the deep with part-timer Imraan Khan the bowler.
It was 75 for two at that stage and Rossouw kept going by crossing his own 50 in 33 balls to keep hopes alive for his side.
However, he was run out shortly after the Knights went past 100 in the 13th over – Miller’s strong throw from long off catching the batsman short whilst attempting a second.
With five overs remaining, there were still 50 to get and seven wickets standing, but Tahir took one of them straight away after form man Reeza Hendricks (16) was taken by Miller at long-on.
The legspinner then delivered the perfect googly to take out Van der Wath (four) and with 34 to get from the 12 and 19 off the final six, it proved a task too large as the Dolphins held on.
TEAMS
Chevrolet Knights – Morne van Wyk (capt, wk), Rilee Rossouw, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Bailey, Obus Pienaar, Johan van der Wath, Ryan McLaren, Werner Coetsee, Malusi Siboto, Roman Terblanche, Jandre Coetzee.
Sunfoil Dolphins – Loots Bosman, Imraan Khan (capt), Ahmed Amla, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Daryn Smit (wk), Robbie Frylinck, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, Mthokozisi Shezi.