Dolphins Rocked by Abrahams and Adams

Ziyaad Abrahams claimed career-best figures and supported by Ferisco Adams as the GbetsRocks clinched an eight-run victory over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the CSA T20Challenge at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Having lost the toss and being asked to bat first, the Rocks struggled to 119 for eight in their 20 overs with Pieter Malan top-scoring with 33 from 30 balls with four boundaries. Ethan Bosch was the star with ball, claiming 3-23 while Prenelan Subrayen claimed 2-18 in his four overs.

In reply, it seemed that a run a ball chase was simple with thoughts of a possible bonus point but the Rocks’ bowlers had other ideas. Abrahams claimed the wickets of Marques Ackerman (23), Bryce Parsons (4) and Kerwin Mungroo (2) to claim bowler of the match to restrict the Dolphins to 111 for nine and send the Rocks into the semi-finals.

Adams supported Abrahams brilliantly and was key in skittling the Dolphins attack even though he only bowled two overs. In his first over, he had Grant Roelofsen (19) caught in the covers by Michael Copeland and then the very next delivery he ran out Keegan Petersen (5) with a direct throw at the striker’s end.

In his second over, he claimed a throw from long-on from Pieter Malan to crash down the stumps at the non-strikers end to run out the key figure of Andile Phehlukwayo for 12. He then cleaned up Bosch with his very next ball, cartwheeling the middle stump for just 14.

Khaya Zondo was looking set to guide his side to safety with a 23-ball 24 but then threw his wicket away, slapping Shaun von Berg (4-0-18-2) straight to Janneman Malan at long-on. Von Berg and Pieter Malan had combined earlier to get rid of Jason Smith for just a single when Smith launched the spinner to deep mid-wicket.

It seemed a bridge too far for the Dolphins as they went from 66 for three in the 11th over to 111 for nine at the close.

Earlier, Pieter Malan’s 33 was key in the Rocks innings that struggled to gain any momentum. Malan was supported by Clyde Fortuin with the wicketkeeper-batsman striking one four and one six from 36 balls before being stumped by Roelofsen from the bowling of Subrayen.

Bosch was excellent with the ball, claiming the wickets of Janneman (1), Adams (15) and clean-bowling Hardus Viljoen (15) to earn his career-best figures. Parsons was economical, claiming 1-14 in three overs of spin while Phehlukwayo went for just 22 in his four overs while claiming the wicket of Malan, caught at on the mid-wicket boundary by Ottniel Baartman.

Both sides have just one game remaining in the round-robin and the Dolphins will need to win their final against Six Gun Grill Western Province if they want to make the play-offs.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Keegan Petersen, Grant Roelofsen (wk), Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Khaya Zondo, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bryce Parsons, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Kerwin Mungroo, Ottniel Baartman.

GBETS ROCKS: Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan (capt), Clyde Fortuin (wk), Ferisco Adams, Michael Copeland, Hlomla Hanabe, Hardus Viljoen, Shaun von Berg, Imraan Manack, Siyabonga Mahima, Ziyaad Abrahams.