The Hollywoodbets Dolphins won a lightning-affected thriller by 12 runs via the DLS method in their CSA One-Day Cup match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.
The Dolphins, reigning champions, were playing their first home match after defeat against the Warriors in Gqeberha last week.
Now they are off the bottom of the table and face a provincial derby against the Moothee Ram Tuskers in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
The small crowd were effectively able to enjoy two formats in one in this match.
First, the Dolphins, put in by the Titans, compiled 281-9 in their 50 overs in perfect, sunny conditions.
Then the clouds closed in, the thunder roared and the match was held up by lightning. Eventually, the teams were effectively forced to play the second half of the match as a T20 encounter with the Titans having to score 165 for victory in 20 overs.
The Dolphins sensed an advantage when Ottneil Baartman – leading the Dolphins’ attack after Eathan Bosch was unable to bowl after tweaking his hamstring while batting – castled the Titans’ main weapon, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, with his first ball, a beauty that knocked back the stocky left-hander’s off-stump.
Skipper Rivaldo Moonsamy followed, being bowled trying an ugly heave off Andile Simelane for just a single.
Simelane, showing coolness under pressure, went on to claim 4-29 in his four overs.
But perhaps the best bowling performance came from the Dolphins’ 46-year-old legspinner, Imran Tahir.
The veteran was pummelled in Gqeberha last week for 75 runs in his 10 overs; but on Thursday night he bowled quite beautifully, claiming 2-10 in four overs, comprising the scalps of Keagan Lion-Cachet and Lesego Senokwane, both bowled neck and crop by superb deliveries.
The Titans plunged to 87-7, but there was a late assault by the lower-order with Dayyaan Galiem (20), Andile Phehlukwayo (26), Duan Jansen (23*) and Gerald Coetzee (20) all scoring at better than a run a ball.
But Simelane, defending 22 off the final over, managed it comfortably as the Dolphins eked out their victory.
ACKERMAN MISSES OUT ON A TON
Earlier, player of the match Marques Ackerman struck a fine 92 off 79 balls to headline the Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ total of 281 for nine wickets.
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 the 320s.
UPDATE
— Dolphins Cricket (@DolphinsCricket) March 5, 2026
Hollywoodbets Dolphins finished their innings on 281/9 (50 overs) thanks to a sensational 92 off 74 balls from Marques Ackerman which included 8 fours and 2 sixes 🤩💫🙌
Play is currently suspended due to lightning. #GoDolphins🐬#ReadyForMore#CatchTheThrill… pic.twitter.com/Y4FRrN4PlM
Ackerman’s innings symbolised the Dolphins’ innings in general. Having played so well, hitting nine fours in his innings, the diminutive left-hander fell to a soft dismissal – albeit a fine diving catch at short fine leg from Galiem – as he completely mistimed a hook off a long hop from 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 partner in the century partnership, 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 Bosch looked poised for a good cameo until he hurt his hamstring before departing for 25.
The two best bowlers for the Titans were pacemen Jansen (3-54) and Galiem (2-40) who both made a good start with the new ball, 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.