Jonker onslaught propels Rocks to first win

The Gbets Rocks finally got off the mark with a victory after five consecutive defeats when they beat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by four wickets with three balls to spare in their CSA T20 Challenge match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday.

Chasing 159 for victory, it was the Rocks’ finisher, Christiaan Jonker, and Shaun von Berg, who got the job done as they featured in an unbroken partnership of 64 in 33 balls for the seventh wicket to take the Paarl-based team home.

Jonker struck two fours and three sixes in his 26-ball innings while Von Berg hit 26 off 16 balls.

The Dolphins missed the off-spin of their usual captain, Prenelan Subrayen, who was missing from the team, with Andile Phehlukwayo taking over the reins.

On the slow, low St George’s pitch, the Dolphins were only able to use Jon-Jon Smuts as their primary spinner, a job he performed well, going for 21 in four overs.

Their pace bowlers, however, were too inconsistent with their lines and lengths and the Rocks were able to maintain a good run-rate throughout their innings so that their final victory was achieved with some comfort.

The Rocks may have finished comfortably, but they started poorly with Daryn Dupavillon claiming the wickets of Keegan Petersen and Clyde Fortuin in his first over, the first playing on and the second holing out to mid-on.

Aviwe Mgijima began brightly, injecting energy into the innings, but he eventually fell for 26 in 17 balls, caught behind off Ottniel Baartman.

Michael Copeland was run out going for a second run, beaten by an excellent throw by Marques Ackerman and it needed a brisk 33 offf 23 balls from Ferisco Adams to maintain the momentum of the innings.

When Adams was finally out, picking out deep midwicket with a pull, the match was still up for grabs and it required Jonker and Von Berg to see the Rocks home.

Shaun von Berg and Christiaan Jonker carry the Gbets Rocks to a crucial win 💪#CSAT20Challenge | #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/cRXdwolCak

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 24, 2024

ACKERMAN SHOW

Earlier, a brisk unbeaten 50 in 32 balls from Ackerman helped the Dolphins reach a useful 158 for four after they had been put in to bat by the Rocks.

The Dolphins lost an early wicket when Grant Roelofsen edged a full, away-swinging delivery from Glenton Stuurman in the first over.

The in-form Bryce Parsons and Jon-Jon Smuts then added 40 off 33 balls for the second wicket before Smuts holed out to deep midwicket off a Von Berg long-hop to gift the Rocks a second wicket.

It was now the Ackerman show, with the little left-hander not only rotating the strike but running like a gazelle between the wickets to turn many ones into twos.

Parsons, who again played impressively, fell to a soft dismissal, holing out tamely to long-on for 31 (25 balls) off the bowling of offspinner Imraan Manack.

Khaya Zondo then joined Ackerman and the pair compiled the best partnership of the innings, 56 off 41 balls, before Zondo was run out for an impressive 35 off 26 balls.

Ackerman, who had used his full array of strokes, including ramps and reverse-sweeps, just had time to go to his half-century in the final over in company with Jason Smith as the pair added a further 39 in 27 balls to the total.

An exciting 50* off just 32 balls for Marques Ackerman helps the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to finish their innings on 158-4 (20 overs)

Ackerman played a vital innings which included 2 sixes and 4 fours and only 5 dot balls to keep the Hollywoodbets Dolphins innings ticking 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/GPCfgLkPdh

— Dolphins Cricket (@DolphinsCricket) March 24, 2024

The Rocks’ best bowlers were their spinners, Manack and Von Berg, who both claimed 1-26 off their four overs, and it was in this department that the Rocks edged their opponents.

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

ROCKS: Adrian du Toit, Keegan Petersen, Clyde Fortuin (capt, wk), Aviwe Mgijima, Michael Copeland, Christiaan Jonker, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Akhona Mnyaka

DAFABET WARRIORS: Matthew Breetzke (c), Jiveshen Pillay, Andile Mogakane, Jordan Hermann, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), JP King, Patrick Kruger, Beyers Swanepoel, Renaldo Meyer, Siya Simetu, Alfred Mothoa

NW DRAGONS: Meeka-eel Prince, Rubin Hermann (wk), Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe, Lesiba Ngoepe, Senuran Muthusamy (c), Duan Jansen, Migael Pretorius, Bamanye Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo