WSB Western Province beat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by 51 runs on a dramatic final morning of their CSA 4-Day Series match at a sunny Kingsmead in Durban on Saturday.
Province were favourites to win after the Dolphins lost their top-order and the services of key batter Marques Ackerman with a hamstring tear, but there was nothing predictable about the way the result was achieved.
This was primarily due to an extraordinary innings from 19-year-old no. 6 batter, Romashan Pillay, who made his first-class debut for the Dolphins. Pillay, educated at Westville Boys’ High School and a member of the SA Under 19 team at the last World Cup, belted the Province attack for 66 glorious runs, including eight fours and two sixes. His stay at the crease lasted 98 minutes and he faced just 51 balls.
MATCH RESULT | It's a victory for the Boys In Blue, winning by 51 runs.
— Western Province Men (@WP_Blitz) November 2, 2024
Dolphins 190/9 (50.2). Dupavillon (4*).
Pillay 65, Erwee 42
Linde 3/69, Simmonds 3/75. #WPcricket #westernprovince #WSBNewlands #WSBWP🧡 #BoysInBlue💙#WozaNawe #4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/lRCxBZJoTE
He began the morning on nought, partnering Jason Smith with the Dolphins on 88 for four, chasing an unlikely 242 for victory on a wearing pitch that had given the spinners considerable assistance.
He calmly played a maiden from Beuran Hendricks to begin the session, but struck his first boundary off Kyle Simmonds in the next over to get off the mark before hooking a Hendricks’ bouncer for a magnificent six in the third over.
That set the tone for the Dolphins’ approach to their task with both batters taking every opportunity to attack the bowling. In a major blow for the home team, Pillay lost his partner, Smith, in the fifth over of the day, caught by Mihlali Mpongwana at slip pushing forward to left-arm spinner George Linde. It was Linde’s 250th wicket in first-class cricket.
Despite the importance of the wicket to the visitors, the assault on the Province spinners continued.
In an astonishing passage of play, Pillay, assisted by Andile Simelane, blitzed a 50-run partnership in just 40 balls. Pillay completed his maiden first-class 50 in thrilling style, reverse-sweeping, sweeping and then slog-sweeping Linde for consecutive boundaries. The landmark came up in 37 balls and included seven fours and two sixes.
Simelane, who struck two sixes of his own, was then trapped leg before by Mpongwana for 23, and the end looked near as Prenelan Subrayen followed quickly, caught at slip by Mpongwana off Linde for a single.
An edge-of-your-seat thrilling match is on the go at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium as our Hollywoodbets Dolphins continue to produce a fighting performance lead by a determined 50 from Romashan Pillay.
— Dolphins Cricket (@DolphinsCricket) November 2, 2024
Hollywoodbets Dolphins are 171/5 needing a further 71 runs to win! pic.twitter.com/w2mcAIQTKp
Province then suffered a shock when Simmonds dropped a dolly offered by Daryn Dupavillon at mid-on, but, in a final twist to a dramatic morning’s cricket, Pillay ran himself out immediately after the drinks break, going for a second run after he had pulled Simmonds to midwicket . His 66 had come in 51 balls and included eight fours and two sixes.
With Ackerman not coming out to bat, a no doubt relieved Simmonds then bowled tailender Okuhle Cele round his legs to complete a deserved Province victory. Simmonds finished with 3/75 in 21.2 overs to complete a nine-wicket match haul. His spin twin, Linde, also enjoyed a good all-round match, striking 34 and 61 with the bat and claiming 3/69 in the Dolphins’ second innings.
Western Province gained a total of 22.24 points (win 16pts, batting 2.24, bowling 4) while the Dolphins earned 5.92 points (batting 1.92, bowling 4).
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Marques AckermSlade van Staden, Jason Smith, Sean Whitehead, Romashan Pillay, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele
WSB WESTERN PROVINCE: Edward Moore, Jonathan Bird, Valentine Kitime, Daniel Smith (wk), Mihlali Mpongwana, George Linde, Yaseen Vallie, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks (capt), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Wesley Bedja