Dolphins beat Warriors to earn a home semifinal

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins have snuck into second place and earned a home semifinal after a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the final round of the CSA T20 Challenge in Nelson Mandela Bay on Sunday.

A well-built 75-run partnership between Jason Smith and Jon Jon Smuts saw the Dolphins reach the 131-run winning target with 16 balls to spare.

Earlier, a Daryn Dupavillon five-wicket haul dismantled the Dafabet Warriors' batting lineup after a disciplined half-century by left-hander Jordan Hermann helped his side to a modest 130 for eight in their 20 overs.

The DP World Lions, who beat the AET Tuskers by seven wickets, will end in top spot and will contest semifinal one against the Momentum Multiply Titans on Wednesday, before the Dolphins, who move into second place with their victory, will host the Warriors at Kingsmead a day later.

Chasing 131 for victory, the visitors lost Khaya Zondo for seven runs, caught by Sean Whitehead off Patrick Kruger before Grant Roelofson fell for 22 from 12 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes before Siya Simetu sent him back to the dugout with the score on 32.

However, Smith and Smuts steadied the ship for the Kwazulu Natal side, taking them to 50 for two after the powerplay.

FAMOUS VICTORY

The pair took the Dolphins past 100, sharing an impressive half-century partnership for the fourth wicket to take the game away from the Warriors.

The duo took their side home to record a famous victory over the as Smuts and Smith ended unbeaten.

Kruger finished with 1-20 from two overs while King and Simetu returned figures of 1-32 and 1-35 respectively.

Asked to bat first by the visitors, Hermann struck four fours and two sixes for his 65 runs off 53 balls as Dolphins quick Daryn Dupavillon claimed a career-first five-wicket haul in the shorter format.

The hosts were in early trouble after losing three wickets for 29 runs inside the powerplay as Dupavillon removed both Jiveshan Pillay [0] and skipper Matthew Breetzke [7], either side of Eathan Bosch's of Andile Mokgakane [5], as they slipped to 29 for three after the powerplay.

Hermann and JP King shared 54 runs for the fourth wicket, before the latter was removed by skipper Prenelan Subrayen for 17, while Bosch removed Qeshile for 17 as well, having helped take the Warriors past 100.

Dupavillon returned in the final over to strike three times, removing Hermann, Kruger [12] and Simetu for a duck to close out the innings.

Dupavilon recorded career-best figures of 5-20 from four overs, while Bosch and Subrayen claimed 2-18 respectively.

DAFABET WARRIORS: Matthew Breetzke [C], Jiveshan Pillay, Andile Mokgakane, Jordan Hermann, Sinethemba Qeshile [WK], Patrick Kruger, JP King, Sean Whitehead, Siya Simetu, Alfred Mothoa Nealan van Heerden

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Grant Roelofson [WK], Khaya Zondo, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tshepang Dithole, Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen [C], Daryn Dupavillon