Zubayr Hamza struck his second consecutive hundred, while Nqaba Peter grabbed a career-best five-for, to lead the DP World Lions to a bonus-point seven-wicket victory over a thoroughly outplayed Hollywoodbets Dolphins in their CSA One-Day Cup match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
Chasing a moderate 240 for victory on the Wanderers’s first drop-in pitch that turned out to be a bland friend of the batters, the Lions raced to victory in 39.1 overs on the back of Hamza’s unbeaten 119 in 127 balls that included 14 fours and a six. He and Reeza Hendricks made light of the home team’s task with an opening partnership of 177 in 32 overs before Hendricks, who was the perfect foil for Hamza, was caught behind off Imran Tahir for 73 (75 balls, seven fours, two sixes).
Thereafter it was simply a case of whether the Lions would collect the bonus point by securing victory within 40 overs and Mitchell van Buuren made sure of that with a savage cameo of 27 in 10 balls including a four and three sixes.
But it was Hamza who appropriately struck the winning blow to secure victory. The former Protea clinched his second ton in succession to go with his 115 against the North West Dragons.
The Dolphins’ attack, missing their main men to South Africa and to injury, were completely exposed by the Lions’ dominant openers. All three wickets fell to spinners, with Imran Tahir getting a couple and Jon-Jon Smuts the third. But none of the bowlers really troubled the Lions’ batters.
That was certainly not the case when the Dolphins batted after the Lions had won the toss and put the visitors in to bat. While the home team’s attack was on the receiving end of a solid century opening partnership between Tshepang Dithole and Smuts, thereafter it was legspinner Peter who bossed the innings, claiming 5/38 in his 10 overs that included two maidens.
Dithole and Smuts gave the innings a solid foundation, reaching 123 in the 25th over before Smuts ballooned a pull straight up into the air for the bowler, Beyers Swanepoel, to hang onto the return catch. The veteran departed for 48 in 72 balls, including three fours and a six.
Smuts’ dismissal began a middle-order collapse in which four wickets fell for five runs in two overs. It was Peter who delivered a double blow, having Slade van Staden caught at slip by Hamza before, two balls later, trapping Marques Ackerman leg before for a duck.
Back came Swanepoel to rip out the middle stump of Dithole with one that angled into the left-hander who struck his best innings – 52 in 76 balls including six fours – of this season’s competition. Thus the Dolphins, sweeping along at 123 without loss, were now rocking on 128 for four.
The innings was then stabilised by loanee Edward Moore (of Western Province) and Romashan Pillay who added a valuable 76 for the fifth wicket. Once again, the pitch looked bland as the batters seemed in no trouble. But then Moore was dismissed in an unfortunate manner, run out after a misunderstanding with Pillay after being sent back going for a second run. The excellent throw by Van Buuren enabled the bowler to break the stumps just in time.
It was now time for the Peter show as the leggie quickly disposed of Gomelemo Phiri, well caught by Hamza attempting a reverse sweep, Tristan Luus caught behind and Tahir whose slog was well held at deep square leg.
Finally Pillay, after a career-best 58 in 70 balls, holed out at cover off Codi Yusuf in the final over.