Amla, Chetty make it Dolphins' day
by Thahir Asmal 04 February 2012, 16:42
Hashim Amla and Cody Chetty both fell seven short of centuries as the Sunfoil Dolphins ended day three of their SuperSport Series match against the bizhub Highveld Lions in control at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday.
Proteas stalwart Amla struck 93 off 144 balls, while Chetty made 93 from 196 to help their side reach the close on 477 for six, a lead of 59 with the game seemingly headed towards a draw.
Visiting allrounder Chris Morris was the pick of the bowlers after he collected 4-84, but Dolphins vice-captain Daryn Smit was 40 not out when bad light forced play to end 52 minutes earlier than scheduled.
It was another day dominated by the bat on the east coast, with the David Miller the only wicket to fall in the morning session.
The hosts had resumed the day on 198 for three and went pass 200 in the first over of play.
Amla, who already has a 50 and 100 to his name in his previous two outings for the Dolphins this season, and Miller reached their half-century partnership in 88 balls.
But after putting on 57 together, Miller (22) sent a faint edge behind to wicketkeeper Dominic Hendricks.
The home side went past 250 in the 79th over followed by Amla, who began the day on 12, collecting his 54th career half-century in 84 deliveries.
They then reached 300 on the stroke of lunch, still 102 behind the Lions’ 418.
Amla and Chetty started out on 316 for four after the break and extended their partnership to 98 before the former failed to deal with a full delivery by the impressive Morris, which he ended up edging behind to Hendricks.
Vice-captain Smit was next in and helped the home side past 350 in the 105th over, with Chetty getting to his 50 in 111 balls after a booming drive for four off part-timer Stephen Cook.
The two batsmen reached their half-century stand in 113 balls and that was extended to 59 as the Dolphins went to tea at 401 for five.
But after batting so well together and putting on 91 for the sixth wicket, the partnership between Smit and Chetty ended needlessly as the latter attempted a second run to Jonathan Vandiar and was run out.
By then the Dolphins were already 15 runs ahead and an unbroken 44-run stand between Smit and Kyle Abbott (23 not out) took them further clear, before 15 overs were lost at the end of play.
Report Day 1
Report Day 2
TEAMS
Sunfoil Dolphins - Imraan Khan (capt) , Divan Van Wyk, Hashim Amla, Daryn Smit (wk), Vaughn van Jaarsveld, David Miller, Cody Chetty, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, Mthokozisi Shezi, Dane Paterson.
bizhub Highveld Lions – Gulam Bodi, Stephen Cook, Jonathan Vandiar, Neil McKenzie (capt) , Temba Bavuma, Zander de Bruyn, Dominic Hendricks (wk), Cliffe Deacon, Chris Morris, Richard das Neves, Eddie Leie.