Smith struck an unbeaten half-century, but Dolphins grab four wickets

Daniel Smith struck an unbeaten half-century, but the Hollywoodbets Dolphins shaded the opening session of their CSA 4-Day Domestic Series match at Kingsmead on Wednesday, restricting WSB Western Province to 94 for four wickets in 33 overs.

The wickets were shared around by the Dolphins’ seamers with Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele, Andile Simelane and Romashan Pillay each claiming a scalp. Nineteen-year-old Pillay claimed his debut wicket in first-class cricket when he had Valentine Kitime caught behind by wicketkeeper Tshepang Dithole.

The left-handed Smith 22,, who struck his first three balls for four, batted fluently for his runs. So far he has struck 11 boundaries.

His teammates struggled against the Dolphins’ pace attack, however, after Western Province won the toss and chose to bat first on a sunny Durban morning. The bowlers got some swing and early pace and bounce on the pitch.

Edward Moore was the first to go in the fifth over when he edged a sharply rising delivery from Dupavillon to Dithole. That was quickly followed by the departure of Yaseen Vallie, bowled through the gate by Cele, his middle-stump being spectacularly ripped out.

Opener Jonathan Bird and Smith then settled in, adding 31 for the fourth wicket before Bird, undecided whether to play or leave the ball, played on to Simelane.

Kitime was the final wicket to fall in the session, driving at a wide delivery from Simelane and edging behind.

At the break, Smith was undefeated on 56 in 87 balls. He and George Linde (7) have so far added 25 for the fifth wicket.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Marques AckermSlade van Staden, Jason Smith, Sean Whitehead, Romashan Pillay, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele

WSB WESTERN PROVINCE: Edward Moore, Jonathan Bird, Valentine Kitime, Daniel Smith (wk), Mihlali Mpongwana, George Linde, Yaseen Vallie, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks (capt), Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Wesley Bedja