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Cele leads Dolphins to easy bonus-point win over Tuskers

cricket19 April 2024 15:36| © MWP
By:Patrick Compton
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Okuhle Cele © Gallo Images

Pace bowler Okuhle Cele claimed career-best figures of 4-13 in 3.3 overs as he led the Hollywoodbets to the easiest of bonus-point victories against an outclassed AET Tuskers (formerly KZN Inland) in their CSA T20 Challenge match at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

 

The win kept the Dolphins in third place on the log; they have one final match against the Dafabet Warriors next week and the possibility of a home semifinal.

The Tuskers, on the other hand, remain rooted to the bottom of the log.

Requiring a paltry 109 to win after the Dolphins won the toss and dismissed the Tuskers for 108 in 18.3 overs, the home team sauntered to an eight-wicket win when Jon-Jon Smuts pulled a four off the first ball of the 15th over.

Smuts, in need of time at the crease, finished unbeaten on 49 in 35 balls (5x4s, 2x6s) while Jason Smith was not out 19 off 10 balls.

Earlier, Khaya Zondo raced to 17 before being deceived by a slower ball from Keith Dudgeon which he lobbed to cover off a leading edge.

Grant Roelofsen (23 off 27) balls and Smuts then added 61 off 53 balls to set up the win.

PACE BOWLERS DOMINATE

Victory was effectively guaranteed when Cele dominated the Tuskers’ batters.

He claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries in his second over, having Cameron Shekleton caught behind driving and then uprooting the leg stump of Ntando Zuma.

 He then returned to clean up the tail, yorking Dudgeon then bowling last man Mbumelelo Budaza in his fourth over.

Cele was given excellent assistance by Andile Simelane who took 3-21, including the key wickets of Cameron Delport, Kyle Nipper and Michael Erlank.

Eighteen-year-old Tristan Luus bowled with good pace to take 1-20 and skipper Prenelan Subrayen bowled his four overs up front to take the wicket of opener Thami Khumalo (bowled for eight) at a cost of 20 runs.

Delport (30 in 33 balls) and Erlank (29 in 29 balls) featured in the best partnership for the Tuskers, adding 42 off 43 balls for the fifth wicket.

In the main, however, it was the Dolphins’ pace bowlers who dominated the visitors’ batsmen on a pitch that produced plenty of pace and bounce – a far cry from the slow, low strip that badly affected the match between the Dolphins and Titans last week.

The Dolphins’ outfielding was flawed with three catches being dropped, but Simelane pulled off a brilliant run-out when he hung on to a hard return drive from Dudgeon and then threw down the wicket to dismiss Kurtlyn Mannikam.

Dudgeon, who has impressed as an allrounder for the Tuskers this season, slammed two fours and a six in his 19 that took his team past the hundred mark.

The visitors’ final total, however, was not nearly enough to trouble the Dolphins.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins: Grant Roelofsen (wk), Khaya Zondo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Bradley Porteous, Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Tristan Luus, Okuhle Cele

AET Tuskers: Cameron Delport, Cameron Shekleton, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Keith Dudgeon, Michael Erlank (capt), Kyle Nipper, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Ntando Zuma (wk), Smanga Nhlebela, Mondli Khumalo, Mbumelelo Budaza

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