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Parsons, Smuts smash Dolphins to big win over Titans

football20 March 2024 19:50| © MWP
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Bryce Parsons and Jon-Jon Smuts hammered the Hollywoodbets Dophins to a big 30-run win on the Duckworth Lewis & Stern (DLS) method over the Momentum Multiply Titans in their rain affected CSA T20 Challenge clash at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday night.

Parsons was the star of the show as he clobbered seven sixes and eight fours in thrashing his way to an unbeaten 102 off 48 balls, while Smuts provided perfect backup as he crunched 61 off 33 (8x4, 2x6) to help the visitors score 183/1 in 14 overs batting first.

Chasing 183 to win the Titans could only respond with 152/5, despite the efforts of opening batter Josh van Heerden who struck an entertaining 56 off 35 balls (5x4, 3x6) but it wasn’t enough as they fell well short in the end.

The Titans' chase got off to a mixed start as Van Heerden got stuck in, but fellow opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius (12) never looked comfortable, before he chipped Ottneil Baartman into the outfield where Marques Ackerman took a good running catch leaving them on 31/1 after four overs.

Rivaldo Moonsamy (2) followed soon after as Okuhle Cele had him caught by Andile Simelane as the Titans slipped to 38/2 at the start of the sixth over.

Van Heerden then absolutely dominated a 44-run partnership with Sibonelo Makhanya (6) as he tried to single-handedly bring his side back into the game.

But after bringing up a fully deserved half century Van Heerden was run out after some superb fielding from Simelane, and he was followed by Makhanya caught by Jason Smith off Cele, leaving them on 89/4 in the 10th over.

David Wiese, 30* off 13 (3x6), and Neil Brand, 26 off 16 (2x4, 2x6), provided some late-innings entertainment with a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership, but with the run rate spiraling they were unable to bring it down enough, as the Dolphins sealed a good win.

SUPERB TON FOR PARSONS

A rain delay early in the Dolphins innings reduced the game to 14-overs-a-side, but it didn’t affect the DLS score drastically.

At the start of play the Titans won the toss and chose to bowl, with the Dolphins getting off to a decent start thanks to openers Parsons and Grant Roelofsen (11).

Having shared 27 runs for the opening wicket in just under three overs, Roelofsen became the only wicket to fall when he was caught by Dayyaan Galiem off the bowling of David Wiese to leave them on 27/1.

With Smuts having just walked in lightning first chased the players from the field with the score 29/1 after 3.1 overs, followed by rain which delayed the game for over an hour.

When the players returned Parsons continued hammering the ball to all parts, while Smuts initially struggled.

Parsons powered his way to his half century in style in the seventh over, slamming back-to-back slog sweeps over deep square leg for six off Tabraiz Shamsi to reach the mark.

While Parsons looked good, Smuts was battling, taking 18 balls to score his first 14 runs, before he unleashed down the back end as both batters produced carnage in the closing overs.

The final over saw Smuts reach his half century in style with back-to-back boundaries off bowler Lizaad Williams before he launched a big six over cow corner.

He then managed to get Parsons on strike with three balls remaining, thanks to a no ball, which allowed him to hit back-to-back fours, the second slashed down to third man to get him to his superb century.

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorious (wk), Sibonelo Makhanya, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Josh van Heerden, Neil Brand, Dayyaan Galiem, David Wiese, Junior Dala, Lizaad Williams, Aaron Phangiso (capt), Tabraiz Shamsi

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Grant Roelofsen (wk), Bryce Parsons, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Daryn Dupavillon, Ottniel Baartman, Okuhle Cele

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