The Hollywoodbets Dolphins, led by Captain Marques Ackerman, made the Imperial Lions pay for two sporting declarations as they powered to an upset eight wicket win on day four of their CSA four day clash at Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday.
Ackerman struck a blistering unbeaten 139 off just 127 balls featuring 21 boundaries as he powered his side past the victory target of 258, as they ended on 260-2 in the final sessions.
Earlier in the match the table topping Lions who went into the match having won all of their CSA four day games before, made two sporting declarations to make sure a result was possible.
The first was at lunch on day two with them on 428-5 in their first innings, with the Dolphins then responding with 337 all out in theirs.
The second came on the final day just before lunch with them on 166-6, setting the Dolphins a tricky 258 to win in two sessions of play.
However Ackerman made it look easy as he shared in two big stands to help his team punish the Lions for not adding a few more runs to the score.
The Dolphins resumed after tea on 163-2, with Ackerman and Khaya Zondo (53no) taking them over the 200 run mark.
Ackerman then brought up his century, they eased past the 250 mark and Zondo brought up his half century before Ackerman finished off the match in style with a boundary, with their third wicket partnership left unbeaten on 146-runs.
In the post lunch session the Dolphins resumed their chase on 7-1, with Ackerman and Grant Roelofsen (54) confidently taking them past the 50 and hundred run marks.
Having extended their second wicket stand to 110 runs, Roelofsen was then bowled by Malusi Siboto with the score 114-2.
Zondo then joined Ackerman and they combined to add 46-runs to the score to send their side into tea well on top.
In the morning the Lions resumed their second innings at the start of play on 88-4 and were immediately dealt a blow as Ruan Haasbroek (6) was caught by Roelofsen off the bowling of Ottneil Baartman without adding to his score as they slipped to 88/5.
Captain Dominic Hendricks (72no) then found a willing partner in Bjorn Fortuin (40) and they set about a 71-run sixth wicket stand, before Fortuin was caught by Eathan Bosch of Odirile Modimokoane, with the score 159-6.
Hendricks then decided to declare their innings two overs later after adding just seven more runs, with the Dolphins set a steep 258 to win.
With just two overs possible before lunch Thamsanqa Khumalo (4) hit a boundary and was then caught by keeper Haasbroek of Lutho Sipamla’s third ball to deal the Dolphins an early blow, as Roelofsen and Ackerman then took them to lunch.
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HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Thamsanqa Khumalo, Grant Roelofsen, Marques Ackerman, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Ruan de Swardt, Eathan Bosch, Odirile Modimokoane, Thando Ntini, Daryn Dupavillon, Ottneil Baartman
IMPERIAL LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Kagiso Rapulana, Wiaan Mulder, Ruan Haasbroek, Bjorn Fortuin, Malusi Siboto, Lutho Sipamla, Tshepo Ntuli, Tladi Bokako
WARRIORS CRUSH ROCKS JUST BEFORE LUNCH
The Gbets Warriors sealed a crushing 168 run win over the Gbets Rocks just before lunch on day four of their CSA four day match in Gqeberha on Sunday, with the visitors all out in their second innings for 174.
After batting first in the match the Warriors were bowled out for 245 in their first innings, with the Rocks then taking a slight lead as they made 259 all out in their first innings.
A brilliant second innings effort from the Warriors then saw then make 356 all out, which set the Rocks an unlikely 342 runs to win during the third days final session, with it looking even less likely as they reached the close on 52-3.
The Rocks then resumed their innings in the morning, with the Warriors making immediate inroads as Cebo Tshiki was caught by keeper Tristan Stubbs off the bowling of Dane Paterson for a fifth ball duck, with visitors slipping to 52-4.
Regular wickets then continued to fall as Paterson accounted for Stiaan van Zyl (15) caught by Stubbs and Ferisco Adams (10) caught by Diego Rosier, while Glenton Stuurman gave Stubbs his fifth grab behind the sticks as Hlomla Hanabe (4) edged to him as the Rocks tumbled to 93-7.
Clyde Fortuin (35) and Shaun von Berg (36no) then rallied and tried to get their side to lunch, sharing in a 52-run eighth wicket stand, however Tsepo Ndwandwa had Fortuin edging to Stubbs for his sixth catch, with the Rocks on 145/8.
Hardus Viljoen (16) struck a couple of boundaries, but Paterson then cleaned up the tail having Viljoen caught by Wihan Lubbe and Kyle Abbot (2) caught by Tiaan van Vuuren leaving von Berg stranded.
Paterson’s brilliant figures of 7-25 were by far the best by a Warriors bowler, while Ndwandwa, 2-50, backed him up.
GBETS WARRIORS: Wihan Lubbe, Matthew Breetzke, Lesiba Ngoepe, Kyle Jacobs, Diego Rosier, Tristan Stubbs, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Tiaan van Vuuren, Glenton Stuurman, Dane Paterson, Tsepo Ndwandwa
GBETS ROCKS: Cebo Tshiki, Isma-eel Gafieldien, Pieter Malan, Stiaan van Zyl, Clyde Fortuin, Hlomla Hanabe, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Hardus Viljoen, Kyle Abbot, Zakhele Qwabe
RAIN HAS FINAL SAY AS WP V KNIGHTS ENDS IN DRAW
Six Gun Grill Western Province were left frustrated by terrible weather as rain put an end to arguably their best performance of the season, leading to a draw against the ITEC Knights in their CSA four day encounter at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Poor weather saw the final two days of play completely washed out, with the call coming shortly after lunch on day four that no play would be possible, with the captains then shaking hands no the result.
The opening two days of play belonged solely to Western Province as they amassed a massive 501/6 declared in their first innings with David Bedingham (199), Kyle Simmonds (100no) and Tony de Zorzi (97) providing the lion share of runs.
Gerald Coetzee, 3/88, was the Knights best bowler.
The Knights were then in trouble on 190-5 at stumps on day two, after Nathan Roux (63) impressed on debut and Pite van Biljon (52) backed him up in the only scores of note for the home side, while Simmonds, 2/59, led the bowling effort.
ITEC KNIGHTS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Jacques Snyman, Nathan Roux, Wandile Makwetu, Pite van Biljon, Farhaan Behardien, Patrick Botha, Gerald Coetzee, Alfred Mothoa, Nealan van Heerden, Mbulelo Budaza
SIX GUN GRILL WESTERN PROVINCE: Gavin Kaplan, Daniel Smith, Tony de Zorzi, Yaseen Vallie, David Bedingham, Jonathan Bird, Basheeru-Deen Walters, Kyle Simmonds, Mihlali Mpongwana, Tshepo Moreki, Beuran Hendricks
TITANS CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER DRAGONS IN THREE DAYS
The Momentum Multiply Titans claimed a comfortable eight wicket win over the North West Dragons in under three days in their CSA four day game at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
The Dragons batted first but were skittled for just 147 in their first innings with Shaylin Pilay (34) Ndumiso Mvelase (24) and Heino Kuhn (20) the only batters getting to 20 runs.
Simon Harmer, 5-20, was the chief destroyer for the visitors, while Lizaad Williams, 3-43, kicked things off dismantling the top order.
The Titans were then on course for a big lead before a late innings collapse saw them reach 246 all out, with Heinrich Klaasen (128), Sibonelo Makhanya (40) and Corbin Bosch (25) the main contributors, however it was their collapse from 230-5 that surprised as their last five wickets tumbled for 16 runs.
Delano Potgieter, 4-40, was the stand out bowler while Mvelase, 2-37, and Senuran Muthusamy, 2-60, managed a pair each.
The Dragons second innings of 231 all out was then powered by a heino Kuhn (119) century, while Potgieter (38no), Muthusamy (22) and Nono Pongolo (21) all made cameos.
Williams, 3-16, was the pick of the bowlers, backed up well by Neil Brand, 2-21, and Harmer, 2-52.
Set a low 134 runs to win the Titans fourth innings chase was then made to look easy as Klaasen (71no) again starred with the bat, supported by Grant Mokoena (50no) as they cruised to on impressive win on Saturday.
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Lesego Senokwane, Wesley Marshall, Shaylen Pillay, Heino Kuhn, Nicky van den Bergh, Senuran Muthusamy, Delano Potgieter, Nono Pongolo, Duan Jansen, Jesse Albanie, Ndumiso Mvelase
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Gihahn Cloete, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Corbin Bosch, Grant Mokoena, Sibonelo Makhanya, Junior Dala, Neil Brand, Jordan Hermann, Heinrich Klaasen, Lizaad Williams
EASTERN STORM CAPITULATES TO HEAT
Northern Cape Heat bowlers made light work of Eastern Storm’s batting lineup on the fourth day of play at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. Play ended early on Sunday afternoon after the visitors bowled out the hosts for 192.
Storm began the day on 28-1, chasing 418 runs to win the match. Gionne Koopman (33), Danie Rossouw (33) and Matthew Arnold (32) got starts but failed to convert them to substantial scores. The rest of the batting simply failed to get going.
Johan van Dyk was the pick of the Northern Cape Heat bowlers with three wickets. Benjamin van Rensburg took two wickets. The rest of the bowlers all took one wicket each.
Northern Cape is in the third position on the log. Eastern Storm is in the sixth position.
TUSKERS AND SIX GUN GRILL SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS SHARE SPOILS
There was no play on Sunday at Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg.
Hollywoodbets Tuskers and Six Gun Grill South Western Districts shared points after the match was called off without a ball being bowled on the fourth day.
With no prospect of play, the match was declared a draw early on Sunday.
Tuskers lead the log and South Western Districts are in fourth place.
ANOTHER DRAW FOR LIMPOPO IMPALAS
Limpopo Impalas shared points with their hosts Mpumalanga Rhinos after the match was declared a draw on the fourth day at Uplands College, White River. The encounter between Rhinos and Impalas only had a single day of play, the first day, and no play was possible since.
Impalas have not won, lost or tied a match this season. They have drawn all their encounters. They are in the fifth position. Rhinos are seventh.