A classy 66 from 43 balls from Raynard van Tonder, followed by a four-for by Patrick Kruger and a three-for from captain Aubrey Swanepoel, helped the Itec Knights successfully defend the 175 they posted after winning the toss and batting first in the rain-reduced 22 overs per side CSA One-Day Cup clash against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
The Dolphins got off to the perfect start in their chase as they raced to 44-0 after four overs with Smuts dominating the opening partnership with Marques Ackerman.
That was unfortunately as good as it got for the Dolphins as they fell apart in the rest of the chase to ultimately fall short by 39 runs as they were bowled out for 136.
Ackerman was caught for only seven off five balls off the bowling of Kruger. Andile Simelane was promoted up to No 3 in the order, but only managed two off nine balls.
Jon-Jon Smuts was bowled by Swanepoel for 38 (28) after being deprived of the strike after the first four overs of the innings.
In Swanepoel’s next over Jason Smith got a bottom edge onto his stumps for one off seven balls. At that point the Dolphins had lost four wickets for 18 runs in the space of 5.3 overs.
The Dolphins were up against it at this point, but Andile Phehlukwayo came in with attacking intent immediately, taking the young Monde Maqunqu for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries in the 11th over.
His innings was short-lived, however, as he top-edged a big swipe against Swanepoel for an eight-ball 14 that was safely taken by Patrick Botha.
Alfred Mothoa found the outside edge of the in-form Brad Porteous for three of six balls, before Snyman had Ruan de Swardt caught for a run-a-ball 22.
Captain Prenulan Subrayen stuck around for a 17-ball 14 before hitting a ball off the bowling off Kruger straight to Van Tonder at deep midwicket who completed the catch.
Tshepang Dithole gave the Dolphins brief hope with an enterprising 20 until he was caught by Swanepoel off the bowling of Mothoa.
Kruger picked up the last, and his fourth, wicket of Ottniel Baartman for one off three balls. Kruger ended up with figures of 4.4-0-25-4 and Swanepoel with 5-0-38-3.
BAARTMAN HAT-TRICKEarlier on the Knights had won the toss and decided to bat first for the first time in the tournament. They made a solid start as and were on 28-0 at the end of four overs, before Jacques Snyman was caught by Smuts off the bowling of Daryn Dupavillon for a 12-ball 15.
He got a leading edge that looped to the cover region when he looked to turn a length ball into the leg side.
A 39-run partnership between Gihahn Cloete and Nathan Roux brought the Knights back on track, but Subrayen managed to get Cloete’s top edge for 38 (29) as he looked for a big slog sweep which was caught keeper Tshepang Dithole.
Nathan Roux was then caught by De Swardt at long-on for 15 (16) off the bowling of Andile Phehlukwayo who dug in a short ball that Roux pulled but couldn’t get enough off and was neatly taken.
Pite van Biljon dragged a slower delivery by Phehlukwayo to Brad Porteous on the deep midwicket boundary who had to make plenty of ground to his left-hand side to catch the ball.
He departed for 11 (12). Phehlukwayo continued his good day out with a third wicket, that of Patrick Kruger for a run-a-ball seven who he clean-bowled with a good yorker on the stumps to leave the Knights on 128-5 after 16.5 overs.
Van Tonder showed a full array of shots as he dominated a 32-run partnership with Patrick Botha, who turned out to be Phehlukwayo’s fourth and final victim of the day for 13 (9) as he ended with figures of 5-0-35-4.
Ottniel Baartman took a hat-trick off the final three deliveries of the innings; that of captain Swanepoel and Alfred Mothoa who were caught and Mbulelo Budaza who dragged the final ball onto his stumps to deny Van Tonder the strike who ended with a superb unbeaten 66 off only 43 balls.
He kept the Knights’ innings together and at the same time managed to strike at 153 (4x4, 3x6).
Phehlukwayo ended with figures of 5-0-35-4 and Baartman with 4-0-37-3. Both sides are already out of the running for a place in the final of the CSA One-Day Cup.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Jon-Jon Smuts, Tshepang Dithole (wk), Marques Ackerman, Ruan de Swardt, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bradley Porteous, Prenelan Subrayen (c), Andile Simelane, Daryn Dupavillon, Ottniel Baartman
ITEC KNIGHTS: Gihahn Cloete (wk), Jacques Snyman, Nathan Roux, Raynard van Tonder, Pite van Biljon, Patrick Botha, Patrick Kruger, Aubrey Swanepoel (c), Alfred Mothoa, Mbulelo Budaza, Monde Maqunqu