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Van der Dussen, Bavuma blast past limp Dolphins
Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma propelled the bizhub Highveld Lions to an easy eight-wicket victory over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the first CSA T20 Challenge semifinal at Bidvest Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Full ScorecardThe two experienced batsmen were clinical as they punished some shoddy bowling from the visitors to record a Wanderers partnership record of 112 for the third wicket to enable their team to cruise to their victory target of 164 for victory with 10 balls to spare.
LIONS WIN!
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) May 1, 2019
Congratulations to @LionsCricketSA , the first finalists in the #CSAT20Challenge 2019 after a massive 8 wicket win. #LIOvDOL pic.twitter.com/1yqEdcKMIv
Van der Dussen, who struck his 22nd T20 fifty, finished with an unbeaten 69 in 49 balls while his captain was equally impressive as he contributed 52 in 37 balls as the pair crafted a victory that was obvious from a long way out.
The Dolphins showed little spirit in the field and their bowlers were largely erratic in their execution with the shining exception of paceman Daryn Dupavillon who ran in hard and deserved his excellent figures of 2-22 in four overs.
Whatever the result of the other semifinal, the final will now take place at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Earlier, the Lions restricted the Dolphins to 163 for eight, which always looked about 20 shy on a good pitch for batting.
PARTIAL RECOVERY
The visitors' innings was a topsy-turvy affair, with only two runs coming off the first 11 balls before experienced openers Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Morne van Wyk hit their straps, racing to 54 in 7.1 overs.
Just when it seemed the pair would push on to help the visitors post a formidable total, the 40-year-old Van Wyk, who reached 4 000 runs in T20 cricket in his last season, contrived to run himself out for 32 in 23 balls although it took a smart piece of fielding from Bavuma to effect the dismissal.
Van Wyk's wicket effectively put the skids on the Dolphins' innings with Cody Chetty, Sibs Makhanya, Senuran Muthusamy and Khaya Zondo going cheaply.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Van Jaarsveld, having cracked four fours and two sixes in his bright 47 in 34 balls, was caught on the boundary.
The chunky lefthander, after being left out of the Dolphins' team for the first eight matches of the competition, scored a century and two 40s in the three innings that were allowed to him.
For the Lions, left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso bowled superbly to collect 1-19 in his four overs, including Van Jaarsveld's scalp.
There was a partial recovery late in the innings, however, with Andile Phehlukwayo striking 25 in 18 balls and Keshav Maharaj an unbeaten 21 in nine, but the Dolphins' final total finished short of the score of 169 which is the average first innings total in daylight T20 at the Wanderers.
In addition to Phangiso, seamers Lizaad Williams (2-33) and Wiaan Mulder (2-23) were also impressive, while the home team's catching and fielding were impeccable.
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Dwaine Pretorius, Nono Pongolo, Migael Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Aaron Phangiso, Lizaad Williams
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Morne van Wyk (wk), Cody Chetty, Khaya Zondo (capt), Senuran Muthusamy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sibs Makhanya, Robbie Frylinck, Keshav
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