The Gbets Rocks put on a convincing performance against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins as they won by seven wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) in a rain affected CSA T20 Challenge match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
The Rocks were 59 for the loss of three wickets when play was interrupted by rain. A revised target of 87 in 12 overs meant that the Rocks needed a further 28 off 21 balls when play resumed again and the experienced Farhaan Behardien had no trouble in seeing his side over the line as he ended up on 24 off 18 balls with Leus du Plooy on 18 off 25 balls at the other end.
The Rocks were on 59 for the loss of three wickets when the players were called off the field due to rain. The Dolphins were their own worst enemy with the ball as ill-discipline cost them. They bowled three no-balls in the rain-reduced innings with the first being particularly costly. Daryn Dupavillon was the culprit as he overstepped when he would have had the big wicket of Leus du Plooy, who was still only on nine runs off 12 balls at the time and went on to go past 2 000 runs in his T20 career.
The Dolphins had gotten off to the perfect start in their defence of 137 runs as Eathan Bosch dismissed Janneman Malan off the second ball of the innings, knocking back his off stump as Malan looked to give himself room to play the ball through the off side. Bosch followed that up with the wicket of Valentine Kitime who only managed to get an edge through to keeper Grant Roelofsen. That was the sixth wicket for Bosch in this tournament, making him the joint leading wicket taker so far; the other being Aubrey Swanepoel. Clyde Fortuin made an enterprising 18 off 12 balls before his slog sweep attempt only managed to find Bryce Parsons at deep midwicket.
Earlier on the Rocks had won the toss and put the Dolphins in to bat on a bright and sunny morning and that decision paid off handsomely as the Dolphins were restricted to 30 for the loss off two wickets at the end of the powerplay. Both those wickets came from Bamanya Xenxe’s first over as he dismissed the labouring Bryce Parsons for eight off 11 balls before Smuts dragged a ball back onto his stumps for a three-ball duck.
Roelofsen was the shining light for the Dolphins as he struck eight fours and one six in his 48-ball 66. None of the other batters managed to make more than Tshepang Dithole’s 22 of 27 balls, who came in for his first match of the tournament in place of Marques Ackerman. This was thanks to a disciplined bowling display from the Rocks who managed to keep the pressure on the Dolphins throughout the innings.
Xenxe lead the way as he took a career best 3-21 and was ably supported by Shaun von Berg who made his first appearance of the tournament and took 2-27 in his allotted four overs, as well as captain Ferisco Adams who bowled extremely well at the death to end on figures of 2-29.
Xenxe was rightfully awarded the bowler of the match award and the big news during the post-match interview with Adams was that Pieter Malan would take no further part in the tournament after the leg injury he picked up in the field during their match against the Warriors on 20 October 2022.