Tshepang Dithole's unbeaten 47 helped lift the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to 83-2 at stumps on day one of their CSA 4-Day Series encounter against the DP World Lions at the DP World Wanderers on Thursday.
The match started an hour and a half late due to a wet outfield. After getting under way, the two teams were on and off the field due to weather interruptions throughout the day.
The first day was curtailed by bad light after tea.
Day 1 | Stumps⚪️🟡
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) March 27, 2025
Play is called off for the day due to bad light.
🐬Dolphins are 83/2 at the close of the first days play in our final home game of the season.
Here's hoping for better conditions the next 3 days🌤️#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi#SpiritOfChampions #4DaySeries… pic.twitter.com/lNb72KoGdG
The hosts called correctly at the toss and elected to field first.
Their bowlers hit the right areas for the most part and were rewarded with wickets.
The Dolphins mounted a fightback through Tshepang Dithole (47*), who was in the company of Jason Smith (22*) at the close of play.
Dithole and Smith had shared an unbroken 41-run third-wicket partnership when play stopped.
Dithole was three runs shy of his 14th first-class half-century.
The 32-year-old left-hander will be looking to build from that platform on day two.
Smith, on the other hand, looked comfortable for his 22 from 33 deliveries.
The middle-order batter came into the innings on the back of a match-winning century against the Momentum Multiply Titans last week.
Before he and Smith joined forces, Dithole shared a 34-run opening stand with his captain, Sarel Erwee.
The pair weathered the storm of Lutho Sipamla and Codi Yusuf's opening spells.
That partnership was followed by a brief stand Dithole shared with Bryce Parsons. They contributed a mere eight runs for the second wicket.
Sipamla and Tshepo Moreki were the only wicket-takers for the Lions on day one.
They each bagged a single wicket.
However, Sipamla was the most successful with one wicket for 23 runs in eight overs.
Moreki was a little more expensive, with 28 runs in seven overs for an economy of four runs an over.
LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Muhammad Manack, Zubayr Hamza, Mitchell van Buuren, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Delano Potgieter, Codi Yusuf, Nqaba Peter, Tshepo Moreki, Lutho Sipamla.
DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Khaya Zondo, Hanu Viljoen (wk), Romashan Pillay, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele.