DAY 3: Erwee 50 leads brisk Dolphins reply

Sarel Erwee struck an unbeaten half-century to lead a brisk Hollywoodbets Dolphins reply of 120 for one in 30 overs on the third afternoon of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

The home team were responding to the Titans’ first innings total of 418 for seven declared in which Dewald Brevis struck a superb 159, his fourth first-class century in 14 matches and his biggest to date.

The pitch remains good for batting and, with only four possible sessions remaining, the chances of a positive result look slim unless there are adventurous declarations.

Both Erwee and Tshepang Dithole were in no mood to hang about when they began their reply in mid-afternoon. The pair were quick to pounce on the loose ball with Dithole the more aggressive of the two. The diminutive left-hander slammed six fours in his 47 in just 70 balls before he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rivaldo Moonsamy off the bowling of left-arm orthodox spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa.

New batter Slade van Staden (14*) was quick to maintain the momentum of the innings, hitting a four and a six as he and Erwee (52* in 85 balls, 8x4s, 1x6) took the Dolphins through to the tea break.

Earlier, Dewald Brevis was the last man out as the Titans declared their first innings 40 minutes after lunch.

The Titans had resumed on 337 for five after Wednesday’s play (Tuesday was lost to rain), but only 20 minutes’ play was possible in the first session after which the umpires took the players off for bad light. When they returned after an early lunch, Brevis and Andile Phehlukwayo battered the Dolphins’ bowlers as the visitors looked for quick runs. Phehlukwayo was particularly aggressive, striking eight fours and a six in his 63 – his 10th first-class 50 – before being yorked by Daryn Dupavillon. He and Brevis had added 117 in 141 balls for the sixth wicket.

Brevis and Corbin Bosch continued flailing away before Brevis swung once too often at offspinner Prenelan Subrayen and was bowled. His superb innings took 172 balls and contained 10 fours and seven sixes. Of particular interest is the fact that his innings also contained 91 dot balls, surely a rare thing in the 21-year-old prodigy’s CV. It certainly suggests that Brevis has the patience and powers of concentration to excel in the first-class game to go with his better known ability as a white-ball cricketer.

For the Dolphins, Benele Cele, Dupavillon and Subrayen each claimed two wickets. Okuhle Cele was the most economical bowler, with 1/35 from 15 overs.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Slade van Staden, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Romashan Pillay, Jon Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen, Banele Cele, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Neil Brand (capt), Joshua van Heerden, Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Jhedli van Briesies, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Boast, Schalk Engelbrecht, Tsepo Ndwandwa