North West Dragons defeated the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by 79 runs in their Momentum One Day Cup match at Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, on Friday. Earlier in the day, North West had set the Dolphins a target of 261 runs to win, after managing a total of 260 for seven. In their chase, the Dolphins slumped to 181 all out in 45.5 overs.
The North West Dragons' victory was in large part due to the heroics of Christopher Britz and Caleb Seleka with bat and ball, respectively.
Britz scored a crucial 81 runs that powered North West to a total of 260 for seven, while Caleb Seleka, playing in his second List A match, finished the day with four wickets from his 10 overs, at an economy rate of two runs an over.
North West Dragons' batting innings did not start well after being put in to bat first by the Dolphins. The Dragons lost two quick wickets and were struggling at 13 for two in the fifth over. It took an 83-run third-wicket partnership between former Proteas batter Heino Kuhn (58) and Chris Britz to stabilise the North West Dragons’ innings.
Following Kuhn’s dismissal, Britz soldiered on, building a 102-run partnership with allrounder Senuran Muthusamy. Britz, playing in his fourth List A match, reached his maiden half-century when he edged Eathan Bosch's delivery to the boundary. The 23-year-old was eventually dismissed for a well-played 81 while trying to clear the boundary in the 44th over.
Undeterred by Britz's dismissal, Muthusamy marched on, bringing up his 50 in the next over. Muthusamy shared a fruitful fifth-wicket partnership with Delano Potgieter. The duo added 49 runs to the total.
Muthusamy (73) and Potgieter (19) were dismissed in the space of four deliveries. The North West lower order contributed 14 runs for the loss of one wicket in the 50th over.
The Dolphins’ chase started well, as they had enjoyed a better PowerPlay compared to the one North West Dragons had. Not only had the Dolphins lost one less wicket than their opponents, who were 23 for two after 10 overs, they also had a better run rate. Dolphins were cruising at 4.9 runs an over.
Sarel Erwee, who shared a 40-run partnership with Bryce Parsons, scored his 18th List A half-century in the 15th over. His 50 came off 58 deliveries. Unfortunately, the Proteas player failed to kick on, as he was dismissed a few balls later for 52, trapped lbw by Delano Potgieter.
Erwee's dismissal was the beginning of an incredible batting collapse for the Dolphins. In the next 29 overs, the Dolphins lost eight more wickets, adding only 105 runs to the total. Only Khaya Zondo provided some sort of resistance against the North West attack with his valiant 50 off 79 runs.
The experienced campaigner watched one partner after the other make their way back to the changeroom at a rather brisk rate. The 32-year-old Proteas player was briefly supported by fellow Protea, Keegan Petersen, with whom Zondo shared a brief, 32-run partnership. Zondo's best partnership was the 39-run sixth-wicket stand he shared with the young allrounder, Eathan Bosch.
Caleb Seleka was North West’s best bowler. The legspinner recorded his career-best figures with his four wickets from 10 overs at an economy of two runs an over. The 19-year-old took the big wickets of Petersen and Zondo in his inspired spell.
Kerwin Mungroo was the Dolphins’ best bowler with his four wickets in 10 overs, at an economy of 3.1 runs an over.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee, Grant Roelofsen, Bryce Parsons, Keegan Petersen, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen (c), Andile Simelane, Kerwin Mungroo, Ottniel Baartman.
NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Lesego Senokwane, Heino Kuhn, Shaylen Pillay, Christopher Britz, Senuran Muthusamy, Delano Potgieter, Khanya Cotani (wk), Duan Jansen, Nono Pongolo (c), Eldred Hawken, Caleb Seleka.