Marques Ackerman struck a fine 92 off 79 balls to headline the Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ total of 281-9 in their CSA One-Day Cup match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
Ackerman featured in an excellent partnership of 109 for the third wicket with Slade van Staden that took the Dolphins to a promising 162-3 just short of the 30th over.
In the circumstances, the fact that they only reached 281 – and a disappointing 49 off the last 10 overs – has to count as an opportunity missed to total something closer to 320.
Ackerman’s innings symbolised the Dolphins’ innings in general. Having played so well, hitting nine fours, the diminutive left-hander fell to a soft dismissal – albeit a fine diving catch at short fine leg from Dayyaan Galiem – as he completely mistimed a hook off a long hop from Andile Phehlukwayo.
Earlier, Ackerman had struck the misfiring medium-pacer for 4, 6, 4 off consecutive deliveries so it was understandable that he was bitterly disappointed to get out.
It was a double disappointment in that he has yet to strike a century in List A cricket after 64 matches. In red-ball cricket it’s another matter as he has struck 13 centuries.
His main partner, Slade van Staden, struck his second consecutive half-century (64 in 79 balls, including nine fours) as the Dolphins recovered well from an uncertain start that saw the early dismissal of Tshepang Dithole (0 in 10 balls).
When Jon-Jon Smuts departed in the 11th over for 22 in 29 balls, the Dolphins stood in need of precisely the dose of restorative medicine that Ackerman and Van Staden supplied.
But after their dismissals, the Dolphins largely failed to fire at the back end of their innings, although new cap Gomolemo Phiri showed promising aggressive intent, hitting four fours in his 38-ball 31 and Eathan Bosch looked poised for a good cameo until he appeared to hurt his hamstring before departing for 25.
The two best bowlers for the Titans were pacemen Duan Jansen (3-54) and Galiem (2-40) who both made a good start with the new ball in the first powerplay, getting movement through the air and some nibble off the pitch.
HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Tshepang Dithole, JJ Smuts, Slade van Staden, Marques Ackerman, Bryce Parsons, Gomolemo Phiri (wk), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Imran Tahir, Ottneil Baartman.
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy (capt), Keegan Petersen, Lesego Senokwane, Donovan Ferreira, Dayyaan Galiem, Keagan-Lion Cachet, Andile Phehlukwayo, Duan Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Tsepo Ndwandwa.