Joshua Richards struck a blistering 72 in 93 balls as the DP World Lions replied with 229 for five wickets – 160 runs in arrears – in their first innings after they had dismissed the Hollywoodbets Dolphins for 389 shortly before lunch on the second day of their CSA 4-Day Series match at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
The day finished with the match nicely poised with the Dolphins perhaps a shade ahead after they took the late wicket of Richard Seletswane. The 20-year-old, playing in only his second first-class match, had played a mature innings to reach 49 just before the close, needing just one scoring shot to record his debut first-class 50. Sadly for the youngster, he allowed his emotions to get the better of him. Having almost run out his partner, Connor Estherhuizen, he lost patience against the metronomic spin of Keshav Maharaj, had a wild slog and skied the ball to Tristan Luus at cover.
Indeed, it was Maharaj who was largely responsible for pegging back the Lions after Richards gave his team a sizzling start with a succession of superb, attacking strokes, assisted by some loose bowling from the Dolphins’ pacemen who bowled both sides of the wicket and two lengths – too full or too short.
Assisted by the ever-dependable Dom Hendricks, Richards slammed 10 fours and two sixes as he dominated a century opening stand with his captain. He looked set for a quickfire century before he was bowled by a superb ball from paceman Eathan Bosch that slanted into him before straightening to hit his off-stump.
His dismissal signalled a change of momentum in favour of the home side. Khaya Fakude was quickly dismissed, edging Maharaj to Bosch at slip and then Luus, who suffered some early punishment, got his revenge when he had Hendricks caught behind by wicketkeeper Hanu Viljoen for a solid 55 (98 balls, 7x4s).
🟡⚪️Day 2 | Stumps
— DP World Lions (@DPWorldLions) October 9, 2025
Another good day's cricket comes to a close in Durban for our players👍🌊
🐬Dolphins 389/10 (1st innings)
🦁DP World Lions 229/5 (1st Innings)
We trail by 160 runs going into day 3 tomorrow, with lots to play for.#DPWorldLionsCricket#LegacyOfChampions… pic.twitter.com/pEeHzjQ9Ky
A rapid rate of scoring at more than four runs to the over then slowed significantly as Maharaj, in particular, required careful attention from the batters. Mitchell van Buuren built his innings slowly but was undone by Maharaj just before the evening drinks break, beaten through the air by a drifting delivery that he edged to Bosch at slip.
Esterhuizen, coming off his 175 against Western Province last week, looked full of confidence, and it seemed that he and Seletswane would survive to the close. It was not to be.
Maharaj was the Dolphins’ outstanding bowler, claiming 3-53 in 31 overs of nuanced, disciplined spin bowling on a pitch that remained good for batting. If nothing else, he showed that he was physically and mentally ready for South Africa’s second test against Pakistan later this month.
EARLY BLOWS
Earlier, the Dolphins resumed on their overnight total of 306 for six but lost both Bosch and Viljoen in the opening half-hour. Bosch (36) was the first to go after playing some splendidly timed drives, caught and bowled by debutant left-arm spinner Sipho Potsane, who took a good low catch when the batter drilled a low drive back at him. Viljoen followed him shortly afterwards, leg before to Codi Yusuf, although the batter looked unhappy with the decision. Nevertheless, he had done his team proud, having struck nine fours in his 136-ball innings.
The Dolphins looked in danger of falling short of 350, but skipper Maharaj teamed up with last man Okuhle Cele to add 46 for the last wicket with Maharaj striking an attractive unbeaten 43 (52 balls, 6x4s, 1x6) before Cele was well caught at slip by Hendricks off the bowling of part-time legspinner Van Buuren.
The Lions bowled with guts and good discipline for much of the Dolphins’ innings, with left-arm spinner Potsane showing promise with figures of 3-72 off 20 overs.