A superb unbeaten century from Jason Smith powered the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a comfortable six-wicket win over the Renault North West Dragons in the early afternoon session on day four of their CSA 4-Day series match at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Sunday.
Smith finished on an impressive 117 off 136 balls, having hit 13 fours and three sixes, and he fittingly ended the match in style by launching spinner Odirile Modimokoane over long off for a maximum to close out proceedings.
In the post-lunch session, Smith and Khaya Zondo (48) resumed the Dolphins' second innings on 147 for three, and essentially made the game safe as they extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 112 runs.
With the win in sight, Zondo edged Modimokoane behind to keeper Janneman Malan just two short of a deserved half-century, leaving them on 201 for four.
But by then the back of the chase had been broken with them needing just 37 to win, and Hanu Viljoen (12no) accompanied Smith to the end.
At the start of the day's play, the Dolphins resumed their second innings on 14 without loss, needing a further 224 runs to win the game.
It was a good start to the fourth morning for the Dragons as they made early inroads, with Matthew Kleinveldt bowling Sarel Erwee (8), followed by him turning catcher to remove Thsepang Dithole (14) off the bowling of Bamanye Xenxe, as the hosts slipped to 29 for two.
However, Bryce Parsons (34) and Smith settled the nerves with a 60-run third-wicket partnership, before Odirile Modimokoane had Parsons caught by Raynard van Tonder, with the score 89 for three.
That brought Zondo to the crease and along with Smith, they batted the Dolphins into a position of dominance at lunch.
Earlier in the match, the Dragons batted first and scored 311 all out thanks to half-centuries from Ruan de Swardt (75), Rubin Hermann (65), Wihan Lubbe (59) and Van Tonder (54), while Prenelan Subrayen, 4-91, and Okuhle Cele, 3-49, were the pick of the bowlers.
The Dolphins responded with 260 all out in their first innings, Romashan Pillay (70) and Erwee (55) the top scorers, while De Swardt, 3-39, and Modimokoane, 3-46, were the key wicket-takers, which gave the visitors a 51-run lead to take into their second innings.
The hosts, however, fought back well in the Dragons' second innings, limiting them to 186 all out. De Swardt’s unbeaten 49 was the best of a poor batting effort, while Parsons starred with the ball with figures of 5-28, which left the Dolphins with 238 to win the match.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Tshepang Dithole Sarel Erwee, Khaya Zondo, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Romashan Pillay, Hanu Viljoen (wk), Prenelan Subrayen, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Okuhle Cele, Darryn Dupavillon
RENAULT NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Matthew Kleinveldt, Janneman Malan (wk), Lesiba Ngoepe, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Rubin Hermann, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Odirile Modimokoane, Lutendo Tsanwani