The North West University Dragons crushed the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by 134 runs in their day-night CSA One-Day Cup match at Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday.
The lopsided result means a bonus-point win for the visitors who remain well in contention for the playoffs while the Dolphins, champions from last season, have a lot to do with just one win from five matches.
Responding to a stiff victory target of 273, the Dolphins showed a disappointing lack of game management and mental discipline to crumble to 138 all out in 37.1 overs. Well though the Dragons bowled – with legspinner Caleb Seleka and paceman Onke Nyaku claiming four wickets each – too many of the Dolphins’ wickets were soft. Indeed, the first five wickets were virtually given away. Tshepang Dithole hooked Alfred Mothoa down deep square leg’s throat; Jon-Jon Smuths flashed Nyaku straight to point; Slade van Staden drove Nyaku straight to mid-off while Marques Ackerman did much the same, driving Nyaku straight to cover.
Probably the most disappointing dismissal was that of Romashan Pillay who had played well for his 34 in 51 balls, striking four fluent fours and a brilliant whipped six over deep square leg. But then, with the arrival of legspinner Seleka, he rushed down the track and – headless chicken style – lofted him straight to long-on.
Admittedly the Dolphins are a thoroughly depleted team, with injuries and international call-ups cutting a deep swathe through their ranks, but coach Quinton Friend will not be pleased with the lack of focus that his team showed in front of a small but decent crowd that deserved better.
Of the Dolphins’ batters, only Dithole (28), Ackerman (12), Pillay and Gomelemo Phiri (a fun cameo of 32) reached double figures on a very serviceable pitch that offered something for pace bowlers, spinners and batters.
Earlier, Lesiba Ngoepe struck a sizzling 88 in 68 balls, his 11th List A half-century, to help the North West Dragons to a challenging 272 for eight after skipper Wihan Lubbe had won the toss and chosen to bat first.
Ngoepe and Ruan de Swardt (48) lifted the innings out of a minor crisis after they came together on 125 for five in the 31st over. The pair quickly settled in and added 127 for the sixth wicket to give the innings the kind of momentum required. Ngoepe deserved a century, but 12 short of what would have been only his second List A ton, he scooped paceman Zedan Mahomed to Bayanda Majola at short third man. The left-hander hammered 11 fours and two sixes in his outstanding knock.
The Dolphins looked well in the match early one with some excellent bowling from paceman Tristan Luus and spinner Jon-Jon Smuts. Luus, who often lacks discipline despite his fiery pace, started particularly well, having opener Meeka-eel Prince nicely caught at slip by Van Staden. His dismissal left the Dragons on 35 for two after Ludwich Schuld chanced his arm once too often, thick-edging a flamboyant drive off Majola to Mahomed at third man.
Lubbe and Janneman Malan added 45 before Lubbe was deceived through the air by Smuts, bunting a soft return catch to the bowler. Skipper Dom Hendricks was just getting going when he received an excellent delivery from Majola that rose sharply off a length with the little left-hander gloving it to wicketkeeper Hanu Viljoen.
The most spectacular dismissal came next, when Malan, who had played well for his 45 in 67 balls, drove Majola hard to Ackerman at a deepish mid-off and set off for a run. Ackerman pounced, picked up the ball cleanly and zeroed in a rocket throw that shattered the stumps at the bowler’s end with Malan a couple of centimetres short of his ground.
That was the end of the good news for the Dolphins, however, as Ngoepe and De Swardt settled to their work with the former leading the way while De Swardt played himself in. Thereafter, De Swardt played a larger role in the partnership and continued to flourish after Ngoepe was dismissed.
For the Dolphins, Smuts was impressive, taking 1/34 in 10 overs, but Imran Tahir had a poor day, failing to hit his areas and being punished for 79 in his 10 overs. Among the pacemen, Luus was impressive (2/43 in 10 despite a loose final over) while Majola was the main wicket-taker, claiming 3/61.
Ackerman was a whippet in the field. Apart from his brilliant run-out, he also took two catches in the outfield including a fine diving grab to get rid of Nyaku. It was also good to see Viljoen back from injury and giving a tidy performance with the gloves.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Tshepang Dithole, Jon-Jon Smuts, Slade van Staden, Marques Acker(capt), Hanu Viljoen, Romashan Pillay, Gomolemo Phiri (wk), Tristan Luus, Imran Tahir, Zedan Mahomed, Bayanda Majola
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Janneman Malan, Dominic Hendricks, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Ruan de Swardt, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Ludwich Schuld, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Onke Nyaku, Alfred Mothoa