DAY 4: Ndwandwa grabs five but Titans held to tame draw by Dolphins

Left-arm spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa claimed his sixth first-class five-wicket haul as the Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the Momentum Multiply Titans played out the tamest of draws in their CSA 4-Day Series match at a sunny Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

The result was predictable after the entire first day was lost due to a damp outfield. In all, more than 150 overs were lost to rain and bad light. Moreover, the pitch was batting-friendly and it was always going to be difficult for bowlers to dictate the course of the match.

Dewald Brevis starred for the Titans with a superb 159, his fourth century in first-class cricket and his biggest to date, as the visitors compiled 418 for seven declared after being put in to bat. Jason Smith was the rock for the Dolphins on the final day in their reply of 365 all out – a deficit of 53 – striking 87 in 149 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. It was his 26th half-century at this level.

The umpires finally called off the match at tea after the completion of the Dolphins’ innings.

The visitors edged the bonus points battle, securing a total of 9.22 (batting 5.22, bowling 4) while the Dolphins received 7.3 (batting 5.3, bowling 2).

It was always going to be a big ask for the visitors to force victory on the final day after the Dolphins resumed on 162 for two. But at least they gave themselves some hope, however fleeting, when the two resident batters were both dismissed in the first three overs without adding to their scores.

The first to go was Bryce Parsons (15) who hooked Corbin Bosch down the throat of fine leg in the second over. Next over, Slade van Staden (35) was bowled by Ndwandwe who spent most of the day bowling from the Umgeni River end, taking 5/124 in 36 overs.

Romashan Pillay, on the back of his impressive 66 on debut in a losing cause in the Dolphins’ last match against WSB Western Province, looked confident and he and Smith soon settled in.

It was a surprise, therefore, when Pillay, who had struck four fours and an on-driven six off Ndwandwa, departed when he mistimed a pull off a short delivery from Matthew Boast straight to Neil Brand at mid-on. It was the right choice of shot but the execution was flawed.

The new batter, Jon-Jon Smuts, led something of a charmed life, being dropped twice by Boast at mid-on on one and long-off on 22, both off the bowling of the luckless Ndwandwa. On the second occasion, Smith rubbed salt into the bowler’s wounds by depositing his next delivery clean over the West Stand and into Masabalala Yengwa Avenue – a huge blow. Later in his innings, Smith duplicated that shot shortly after the second new ball had been taken, except this time the ball was never found.

Ndwandwa eventually got his man, however, with a classic dismissal as Smuts pushed forward to a delivery that turned sharply, catching the edge and offering a comfortable catch to Bosch at slip.

Prenelan Subrayen was Ndwandwe’s fourth victim, holing out to mid-off and Banele Cele was the landmark dismissal for the 29-year-old from Motherwell, trapped leg before.

It appeared that Smith might go on to record a deserved century, but he fell to paceman Corbin Bosch, caught at slip trying to guide a short-pitched ball to third man.

The innings meandered to a close with Daryn Dupavillon and Okuhle Cele facing a string of part-time bowlers before Cele was bowled by Josh van Heerden.