The DP World Lions held their nerve in a dramatic finish to beat the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by eight runs in a high-scoring YesPlay Pro20 Cup encounter at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions posted 202 for three after winning the toss and deciding to bat first, with Zubayr Hamza and Reeza Hendricks laying the platform before a late assault from Connor Esterhuizen propelled them beyond 200.
Hamza was the aggressor early on, racing to his half-century from just 25 balls. He eventually fell for a superb 66 from 38 deliveries, having struck consistently throughout his innings.
Hendricks then continued the momentum, bringing up his own fifty from 34 balls before being dismissed by Prenelan Subrayen for 50 off 35. Mitchell van Buuren followed soon afterwards for three, leaving the Lions 133 for three after 15 overs.
38 from just 13 balls from Connor Esterhuizen at the death gave the visiting side some vital momentum. The Lions added 69 runs in the final five overs. Esterhuizen's late onslaught ensured the Lions finished on 202 for three, setting the Dolphins a formidable target.
The Dolphins made a flying start to their chase, with Khaya Zondo and Bryce Parsons putting on an aggressive opening stand. Zondo made 37 from 19 balls before falling to Lutho Sipamla, while Bryce Parsons was dismissed for 12 shortly afterwards.
Grant Roelofsen continued the charge with 25 from 14 balls, but his dismissal in the ninth over left the Dolphins 87 for three.
Jason Smith and Sean Gilson then produced a remarkable recovery.
Smith anchored the chase while Gilson provided valuable support, the pair first brought up a 50-run partnership in the 15th over. Their stand continued to grow and reached three figures in the 19th over, putting the Dolphins firmly in contention.
Smith eventually fell for an excellent 66 from 44 balls off the final ball of the penultimate over, caught at long-off with the Dolphins needing 15 from the final over. Gilson remained at the crease with Hanu Viljoen, leaving the Dolphins with a genuine chance of completing the chase.
Lions bowler Codi Yusuf then bowled Gilson for 38 from 27 balls with the first delivery of the final over, before removing Gomolemo Phiri with the fourth ball. With the Dolphins still requiring 11 runs, the remaining deliveries proved insufficient and the Lions closed out an eight-run victory.
The result came after a thrilling final phase in which the Dolphins had recovered from 87 for three to reach 188 for four after 19 overs, only to see the Lions defend their total under immense pressure.