Ackerman and Luus brilliant as Dolphins drown Tuskers

Marques Ackerman and Tristan Luus were outstanding as the Hollywoodbets Dolphins bagged a 19-run win over the AET Tuskers in their CSA T20 Challenge match at the JB Marks Oval, Pietermaritzburg, on Monday.

The Dolphins scored 151 for seven in their innings, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Ackerman. In reply, the Tuskers managed 132 for five. The win helps them make strides in securing a semifinal spot in the competition.

Ackerman set the Kingsmead side up for a defendable total with a brilliant 54 off 36 balls in a knock that featured six fours and a single six. The Dolphins were in a spot of bother when the 28-year-old arrived at the crease. They were on 2/2 after 1.4 overs thanks to an outstanding new ball spell from Mbulelo Budaza. The 30-year-old pacer made a triumphant return to the Tuskers' starting XI by taking advantage of conditions in the Powerplay.

Ackerman found his feet after an uncomfortable period of Budaza and Keith Dudgeon operating in tandem and stabilized the innings with a 58-run fourth-wicket partnership with Khaya Zondo. The hard-running and innovative pair batted together for 36 deliveries as they pushed the run rate up. Ackerman seemed to be batting on a different surface to the rest of the Dolphins' top six. The 28-year-old faced 33 deliveries to bring up his second half-century of the season, his fifth T20 half-ton.

Ackerman's effort was complimented by Andile Phehlukwayo (30 off 22) and Prenelan Subrayen (28 off 15), who took control of the death overs, scoring 58 runs off the last five overs. Their 59-run stand lifted the Dolphins beyond 150.

Tristan Luus, who was making his debut for the Dolphins, was the outstanding bowler for the winners. The 18-year-old pacer might have conceded runs at a higher economy rate than his counterparts, but he took the most wickets and executed a run out that helped the Dolphins maintain control over the contest. Luus finished the match with two wickets for 30 in four overs. These are now his best bowling figures in T20 cricket.

He was able to shine because the other Dolphins’ bowlers kept a lid on things, did not give much away and delivered a high number of dot balls. Their bowling was so on target that the Tuskers' required run rate rose with each over. One of the Tuskers' issues this season was the high number of dot balls with only one batter standing out, Keith Dudgeon (35 off 23). The allrounder has consistently performed with bat and ball for the Pietermaritzburg side.

Against the Dolphins, Dudgeon's strike rate of 152.17 was in a different postcode than his teammates. Malcolm Nofal (11 off 9) had the second-best strike rate of 122.22. The rest of the Tuskers' batters went at below 100. With Dudgeon in the middle, the Tuskers scored a 36-ball 50 to bring up their 100.

Dudgeon's 42-run third-wicket stand with Kagiso Rapulana (43 off 45) did enough to keep the Tuskers hopeful. That partnership was broken by Tristan Luus, the 18-year-old claiming his second T20 wicket. The teenager was in the game again with a display of excitement fielding to break the growing partnership between Dudgeon and Malcolm Nofal. The danger-man, Dudgeon fell on the next delivery and with that dismissal, the Tuskers' hopes died.

Mbulelo Budaza was the best bowler for the Tuskers in the match with three wickets for 27 runs in four overs. Thando Ntini and Smangaliso took two wickets each.

DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Grant Roelofsen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Marques Ackerman, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Ottniel Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen, Tristan Luus.

TUSKERS:Cameron Delport, Kagiso Rapulana, Cameron Shekleton, Michael Erlank, Tian Koekemoer, Malcolm Nofal, Ntando Zuma, Keith Dudgeon, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Thando Ntini, Mbulelo Budaza.