Dolphins-Dragons match abandoned

Rain forced the CSA T20 Challenge match between the Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the Auto Investment North West Dragons to be called off at Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday. Both teams received two points for the no result.

The match started on time at 2pm, and Dragons’ skipper Senuran Muthusamy won the toss and chose to bat. Perhaps his decision was influenced by the uncertain weather forecast at a heavily clouded Kingsmead. Sure enough, the rain came after 13.2 overs at 2:57pm, when the visitors had reached 79 for four. The players never returned to the field and the match was called off at 4:20pm.

It was a struggle for the Dragons in the pre-rain session, with the Dolphins’ two spinners sharing the four wickets to fall. Jon-Jon Smuts enjoyed the best analysis, claiming 2-11 in three overs as if to celebrate the 35-year-old’s 200th T20 match. His spin twin, 30-year-old Prenelan Subrayen, bowled his full quota of overs, taking 2-28. He too was celebrating a landmark, his 100th T20 match.

Subrayen was quickly off the mark when the Dragons batted, bowling Mika-eel Prince with the final ball of the first over that kept a little low as the batter tried to turn the ball to leg. Jordan Hermann, in excellent form of late, struck 25 in 19 balls, adding 37 in 35 balls with Raynard van Tonder, before he tried to clear the midwicket boundary off Smuts, mistimed his slog-sweep and was nicely taken by Marques Ackerman running to his left close to the boundary rope.

Van Tonder, who had struck a fine on-drive for six off Okuhle Cele, then rushed down the pitch to Subrayen, missed the ball and wicketkeeper Grant Roelofsen had plenty of time to whip off the bails.

The final wicket to fall before the rain was that of Wihan Lubbe who played too early at a slow, short-pitched delivery from Smuts and only managed to chop it onto his stumps as he attempted a pull.

Muthusamy (8*) joined Lesiba Ngoepe (16*) and the two added 17 in 15 balls before the rain came.

The Dolphins’ principal pace bowlers provided useful support to the spinners with both Daryn Dupavillon (0-12 in two overs) and Ottniel Baartman (0-10 off two) beating the bat on numerous occasions.

DOLPHINS: Grant Roelofsen (wk), Bryce Parsons, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Daryn Dupavillon, Ottniel Baartman, Okuhle Cele

NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Ruben Hermann, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe, Lesiba Ngoepe, Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Ruan de Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Bamanya Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo