After a strong first day of their 2025/26 season, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins are hoping to continue that form on day two of their 4-Day Series clash with Goldrush Boland at Boland Park.
The Dolphins were made to bowl first on Thursday as the home side opted for first strike in their home conditions and the Dolphins bowlers too advantage of this to dominate from the outset.
Okuhle Cele dismissed the dangerous Grant Roelofsen early to set the tone and the Dolphins continued to pick up wickets regularly.
The returning Ottniel Baartman found his rhythm early with the red ball as he stood out on day one with 3/19 from eleven overs.
The Dolphins seamers ripped through the top and middle order of Boland with Baartman, Cele and the impressive Tristan Luus accounting for nine of the wickets to fall.
Luus, who made his first class debut for the Dolphins in the final match of last season, was the best of the Dolphins bowlers picking up 4/42 in just over ten overs.
The young speedster picked up the wicket of the in-form Gavin Kaplan for 20 before helping to finish off the Boland innings as the Dolphins bowled the hosts out for 156.
One of the important wickets Luus picked up was that of Glenton Stuurman for 27.
Cele finished with 2/49 and bagged the important wickets of Roelofsen and Aya Gqamane who threatened to get going down the order.
In reply, the Dolphins lost Romashan Pillay off the first ball of their innings before Marques Ackerman and Tshepang Dithole steadied things to put on 53 for the second wicket.
Ackerman was dismissed for a useful and entertaining 35 off 43 balls, while Dithole continued to his fourteenth first class half century with Bryce Parsons providing important support.
Parsons was the third wicket to fall for 45 bringing to end a partnership of 124 runs. At the loss of the Parsons wicket the Dolphins were 177 for three, leading by 21 runs.
At the end of the day the Dolphins lost the wicket of Jason Smith for two.
Dithole will start day two on 78 not and will be joined at the crease by Khaya Zondo with the Dolphins 185 for four leading by 29 runs.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
1st Innings
Goldrush Boland 156 all out (L Botha 45* T Luus 4/42 O Baartman 3/19)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins 185/4 (T Dithole 78* B Parsons 45 M Ackerman 35)
Dolphins lead by 29 runs