Dithole leads Tuskers to One-Day title

Tshepang Dithole scored a masterful half-century and formed two key partnerships with Cameron Delport and Michael Erlank to see Hollywoodbets Tuskers to a five-wicket victory over Northern Cape Heat in their Momentum One-Day Cup final match at Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg on Friday.

Heat, who were asked to bat first by Tuskers, scored 254 for seven in their innings. Tuskers chased down the total in 47.5 overs for the loss of five wickets.

In their chase, Tuskers needed 255 runs to win and could not have asked for a better start than the one provided by Cameron Delport and Tshepang Dithole. The left-handed openers' 53-run opening partnership, which came from only 50 balls, provided the hosts with a solid platform for their chase. Unfortunately for the one-time SA A player, Delport, he failed to kick on after a brisk 26 runs from 24 balls.

After Delport's departure, Dithole combined with 27-year-old batter, Luke Schlemmer (23), for a useful 48-run partnership that helped stabilize the Tuskers’ innings.

Schlemmer's dismissal brought Tuskers captain, Michael Erlank to the crease. The ever-dependable Erlank stitched a partnership that spanned just under 17 overs with Dithole. The duo added 83 runs to the total.

Player of the Match, Dithole, narrowly missed out on his second list A century when he fell to Ernest Kemm's bowling, seven runs short of the milestone, in the 36th over. Dithole scored nine fours and two sixes on his way to a brilliant 93 runs from 110 balls.

When Dithole was dismissed, Tuskers needed 71 runs from 83 balls. At that point, it was Tuskers' match to lose.

Two quick wickets, Tian Koekemoer (17) in the 40th over and Andile Mogakane (6) in the 43rd over, could have given rise to panic in the Tuskers dugout. But, fortunately for them, the experienced 31-year-old, Erlank, kept a cool head and played a measured innings to see them home with just over two overs to spare.

Ernest Kemm was Heat's best bowler with two wickets from four overs at an economy of 5.25. Medium-pacer Evan Jones also took two wickets from his eight overs but had a marginally higher economy of 5.38 runs an over. Jones also conceded more extras compared to Kemm.

Earlier in the day, the Heat had not had the best start to their innings after Ernest Kemm was forced to depart in the second over for a seven-ball duck. His opening partner, Jonathan Vandiar, missed out on a half-century after a well-played inning of 46 runs from 51 balls. The former Knights batter was dismissed in the 19th over by Zac Paruk.

Heat's best batter was Rivaldo Moonsamy. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper put together a 60-run sixth-wicket partnership. Moonsamy scored a magnificent 77 off 88 (10 x fours and a single six). His partner in Heat's highest partnership, Victor Mahlangu, blazed an unbeaten 59 from 61.

After Moonsamy's dismissal, Mahlangu had the company of Hanu Viljoen at the crease. Twenty-year-old Viljoen played a proper supporting role to Mahlangu in their 69-run partnership. Viljoen contributed only 22 runs to the partnership before he was dismissed with only three balls remaining in their innings.

Keith Dudgeon was Tuskers' best bowler with three wickets from nine overs. The 26-year-old bowled one maiden and conceded 41 runs.

TUSKERS: Tshepang Dithole, Cameron Delport, Luke Schlemmer, Michael Erlank, Tian Koekemoer, Andile Mogakane, Kyle Nipper, Keith Dudgeon, Zac Paruk, Thula Ngcobo, Nduduzo Mfoza.

NORTHERN CAPE HEAT: Ernest Kemm, Jonathan Vandiar, Isaac Dikgale, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Aubrey Swanepoel, Evan Jones, Victor Mahlangu, Hanu Viljoen, Beyers Swanepoel, Johan van Dyk, Andrew Rasemene.