Zondo leads Dolphins into CSA T20 KO final

A vital unbeaten half-century from Khaya Zondo led the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a four-wicket win over the Momentum Multiply Titans and into the final of the CSA T20 Knockout competition, in the first semifinal at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Thursday.

Zondo stroked his way to a match-winning 58 off 45 deliveries (5x4; 2x6) while his 59-run third-wicket partnership with opener Sarel Erwee, 33 off 31 (2x4; 2x6), was integral in setting the team up for the win.

A few late wickets had brought the Titans right back into the match at 121 for six after 18 overs, with the Dolphins still needing 18 to win off the final two overs.

However, Zondo took matters into his own hands in the 19th, smashing Okuhle Cele for two fours and a six off consecutive balls as 16 came off the over.

He bottom edged the first to third man before stepping across and pulling the second to deep square leg and then pumped a full toss over long-off, leaving two needed off the final over which they managed with three balls to spare.

At the start of the innings, the Dolphins' chase got off to a bad start as Corbin Bosch picked up two wickets in the powerplay to reduce them to 33 for two after the first six overs.

FEATHER AN EDGE

First Keegan Petersen (17), who had cracked a few boundaries in the opening overs, tried to flick a wide ball from Bosch down the leg side only to feather an edge to keeper Gihahn Cloete, with them 19 for one in the fourth over.

In his next over Bosch saw Marques Ackerman (6) flick him straight to Donovan Ferreira at square leg, with the over a maiden and the Dolphins in early trouble.

However, Zondo joined Erwee at the crease and after a nervy start that saw Zondo extremely lucky to survive two run-out chances, they set about their match-winning stand, moving the side to 42 for two after eight overs.

The batsmen decided to pick up the rate as a six from Zondo over deep extra cover off Neil Brand saw 10 runs off the ninth over as they crossed the 50 run mark.

Nine runs came off Harmer in the 10th over, a lofted six down the ground from Erwee off Aya Gqmane in the 11th saw 10 from it and back-to-back boundaries from Zondo off Bosch in the 12th saw another 10 off it as they cruised to 81 for two.

The 13th over, bowled by Dayyaan Galiem, saw Erwee pull the first ball over deep midwicket for six to bring up the 50 partnership, but after getting 11 off the first five balls, Erwee threw his wicket away top-edging the last ball to keeper Cloete, with them 92 for three.

SUBLIME BAARTMAN

This sparked a mini-collapse that saw the Dolphins lose three wickets for five runs as Bryce Parsons was stumped by Cloete off Harmer for a second-ball duck and Jason Smith (2) edged a wide ball from Galiem to keeper Cloete as they slipped to 97 for five in the 15th over.

Two important stands of 21 each between Zondo and Ruan de Swardt (9) and Zondo and Daryn Dupavillon (three not out) followed to get them over the line.

In the Titans' innings, a top bowling effort from Ottneil Baartman saw the Dolphins limit the Titans to a below-par 138 all out.

Baartman was in sublime form to pick up 4-18 in four overs, becoming the top wicket-taker in the competition along the way, while he was backed up superbly by Thando Ntini, 2-26, and de Swardt, 2-22.

Opener Cloete was the pick of the Titans' batters, stroking his way to 62 off 49 deliveries (7x6; 1x6), while he received initial support from Ferreira, 26 off 27 (1x4; 1x6), before Bosch, 21 off 11 (1x4; 2x6), produced a timely cameo at the end to give their bowlers something to defend.

The innings got off to a rocky start as the Titans found themselves in early trouble on 38 for four after seven overs.

Brand (11) was first to fall in the fourth over, trying to hit De Swardt over the infield only to find Ackerman at midwicket.

WILLING PARTNER

A bizarre over from Baartman followed as he picked up two wickets but also bowled a no-ball and conceded five wides as he first speared one in to trap Jiveshan Pillay (1) LBW, before he bowled new man Galiem for a second-ball duck as he tried to give himself room but missed the ball to see it crashing into the top of off stump.

Sibonelo Makhanya (4) was bowled by a ripper from Odirile Modimokoane, with the ball pitching on middle and spinning away to miss the bat and clip the top of off, leaving the Titans in a spot of bother.

Cloete, however, found a willing partner in Ferreira and they set about rebuilding the innings with a 62-run stand as they took the side past 50 in the ninth over and to 71 for four by the end of the 13th over.

An exciting two overs followed, with Ferreira dropped at square leg by Dupavillon as 10 came off Ntini in the 14th.

The 15th, bowled by Modimokoane, saw Ferreira loft a six down the ground first ball, Cloete was then dropped by Dupavillon again -- this time at wide long-on off the third with the ball trickling for four before the final ball was launched for six over deep midwicket as the hundred came up.

The first ball of the next over saw the back of Ferreira as he skied De Swardt to Zondo at mid-on before Cloete brought up his half-century off 39 balls with a single off the next.

Ntini closed out an impressive spell of bowling in the 17th over as he had Gqamane (2) caught by Ackerman at mid-on with his first ball and then with the last had Harmer out for a first-ball duck, caught behind by keeper Petersen as they crashed to 113 for seven.

Baartman completed his second spell with a top final over in the 19th, yorking Cloete and having Aaron Phangiso caught at extra cover first ball with the Titans 130 for nine.

Bosch hit a six off Dupavillon in the last over, but was comfortably run out trying to scamper a two with a few balls left.

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Neil Brand, Gihahn Cloete (wk), Jiveshan Pillay, Dayyaan Galiem, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donavon Ferreira, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Corbin Bosch, Aaron Phangiso (capt), Okuhle Cele

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen (wk), Marques Ackerman (capt), Khaya Zondo, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Ruan de Swardt, Daryn Dupavillon, Thando Ntini, Odirile Modimokoane, Ottniel Baartman