The DP World Lions and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins recorded their respective first victories of the season in the third week of the Hollywoodbets Pro50 Series on Saturday.
The Lions bowlers proved too strong for the YesPlay Cobras at the Alan Lawson Oval in Johannesburg, securing a five-wicket victory following a brilliant five-wicket haul from experienced spinner Raisibe Ntozakhe.
At the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, the Dolphins convincingly dispatched the Warriors by 149 runs thanks to a century from Robyn Searle and a three-wicket haul from legspinner Seshnie Naidu.
Both sides now join the Cobras with one victory after two games, still trailing the log-leading and unbeaten Fidelity Titans, who have two wins from two matches.
Earlier in the day, the Lions won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that paid off following an impressive bowling display. The evergreen Shabnim Ismail (3/32) struck with three early wickets to reduce the Cobras to 39/3 before the visitors’ leading batters on the day, Nadine de Klerk (37) and Leah Jones (36), added 42 runs for the fourth wicket.
That stand was brought to an end by Ntozakhe in the 24th over, with the spinner claiming two wickets in the same over before Chloé Tryon (1/19) joined in with a scalp of her own to leave the Cobras reeling on 83/6.
Ntozakhe removed three more batters to help wrap up the Cobras’ innings on 137 all out in the 39th over, despite late efforts from Jones and Mieke de Ridder (15).
With the bat, the Lions chased down the target within 26 overs as Madison Landsman top-scored with an unbeaten 48 off 64 balls (7 fours) to guide the home side to 140/5, despite an impressive return of three for 28 from the Cobras’ Oluhle Siyo.
In eThekwini, the Dolphins dominated from the outset. After choosing to bat first at the toss, openers Searle and Alexandra Candler (82 off 94 balls; 14 fours) combined for a 165-run partnership to put the hosts in command.
After playing the supporting role in the stand with Candler, who was the first wicket to fall through a run-out, Searle went on to bring up three figures before departing with the score on 225/2.
Asakhe Nyovane (23) and Seshnie Naidu (28) added crucial runs to help the Dolphins surpass the 300-run mark, closing their innings on 306/9.
Alyssa Erxleben (2/43) and Aphilile Adonisi (2/54) were the pick of the bowlers for the Warriors.
In defence of their substantial total, the home side were made to wait until the 18th over before picking up their first wicket, as Zizipho Mdebuka (24) and Kwanga Pinini (20) put on a patient 57-run opening stand before Candler (2/12) struck with the ball.
After a steady start, Warriors wickets began to fall at regular intervals, with Naidu leading the attack, aided by Candler, Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/18), Micaela Andrews (1/28) and Nondumiso Shangase (1/18).
Although Erxleben showed fight with an unbeaten 31 off 50 balls, the Warriors eventually succumbed to defeat in the 44th over, bowled out for 157.
The Hollywoodbets Pro Series continues on 18 October with the Hollywoodbets Pro20 competition taking centre stage. All the action will be streamed live on Cricket South Africa’s YouTube channel.
Results - Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series - Week 3
Hollywoodbets Dolphins beat Warriors by 149 runs
Dolphins: 306/9 after 50 overs; R. Searle 103 (124), A. Candler 82 (95); A. Erxleben 2/43, A. Adonisi 2/54
Warriors: 157 all out after 43.2 overs; A. Erxleben 31* (50), Z. Mdebuka 24 (56); S. Naidu 3/34, A. Candler 2/12
DP World Lions beat YesPlay Cobras by 5 wickets
Cobras: 137 all out after 39 overs; N. de Klerk 37 (61), L. Jones 36 (73); R. Ntozakhe 5/21, S. Ismail 3/32
Lions: 140/5 after 25.5 overs; M. Landsman 48* (64), F. Cowling 24 (43); O. Siyo 3/28, K. Reyneke 1/12
Fixtures - Hollywoodbets Pro Series Week 3 (18 October)
Hollywoodbets Pro20 Series - Sunday, 18 October
Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Warriors (Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban) at 9:30am
DP World Lions v YesPlay Cobras (DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg) at 9am