Simelane grabs 4 wickets to restrict Dragons

Paceman Andile Simelane returned his best analysis in T20 cricket when he took 4/20 for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins against the Auto Investments’ North West Dragons in their CSA T20 Challenge match at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

Wihan Lubbe’s belligerent 49 in 29 balls (4x4s, 2x6s) had earlier paved the way for what looked like an intimidating total for the log-leading Dragons who came into the match with a perfect record of three wins from three matches. With the Dragons on 102 for two in the 14th over after the Dolphins had won the toss and put the visitors into bat, the Dragons were breathing fire.

But then Simelane intervened, having Lubbe well caught on the square-leg boundary by Okuhle Cele, and the Dolphins did well to take a further five wickets for just 34 runs in the overs that remained.

Aside from Lubbe, only opener Janneman Malan (21) and Raynard van Tonder (23) went past 20 as the innings subsided.

The Dolphins, who have lost their first three matches, were able to pick a stronger than usual side for the match with Jason Smith back from the UAE along with skipper Keshav Maharaj

DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Tshepang Dithole (wk), Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Bradley Porteous, Andile Simelane, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Prenelan Subrayen, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhl Cele

DRAGONS: Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Janneman Malan, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Raynard van Tonder, Lesiba Ngoepe, Ruan de Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Bamanya Xenxe, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete