DAY 3: Dolphins make brisk reply, but weather wins out in Durban

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins reached 163 for two wickets in 39 overs in their first innings at the premature close of the third day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

They still face arrears of 255 after the Titans – led by a superb 159 from Dewald Brevis – had declared their first innings on 418 for seven.

Bad light and the weather in general have so far conspired to ruin the match as a contest with more than 150 overs lost to the elements. With the pitch remaining good for batting, a positive result looks unlikely with just three sessions to go.

The Dolphins batted breezily when they began their reply in mid-afternoon after the Titans had declared 40 minutes after lunch. Dolphins’ skipper Sarel Erwee and Tshepang Dithole scored at well over four to the over in their opening stand of 99 before Dithole was caught behind off left-arm spinner Tsepo Ndwandwa for 47 (70 balls, 6x4s).

The 35-year-old veteran (58 in 100 balls, 8x4s, 1x6) reached his 43rd half-century in his 121st match before falling to an innocuous delivery from paceman Matthew Boast, getting an inside edge onto his stumps.

With the umpires hovering with the light metre, the post-tea session was never going to be long and sure enough they hauled the players off the field after just seven overs with an aggressive Slade van Staden unbeaten on 35 (49 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Bryce Parsons on 15.

Earlier, Dewald Brevis was the last man out as the Titans declared their first innings 40 minutes after lunch.

The Titans had resumed on 337 for five after Wednesday’s play (Tuesday was lost to rain), but only 20 minutes’ play was possible in the first session after which the umpires took the players off for bad light.

When they returned after an early lunch, Brevis and Andile Phehlukwayo battered the Dolphins’ bowlers as the visitors looked for quick runs. Phehlukwayo was particularly aggressive, striking eight fours and a six in his 63 – his 10th first-class 50 – before being yorked by Daryn Dupavillon. He and Brevis had added 117 in 141 balls for the sixth wicket.

Brevis and Corbin Bosch continued flailing away before Brevis swung once too often at offspinner Prenelan Subrayen and was bowled. His fine innings came off 172 balls and contained 10 fours and seven sixes. Of particular interest is the fact that his innings also contained 91 dot balls, surely a rare thing in the 21-year-old prodigy’s CV. It certainly suggests that Brevis has the patience and powers of concentration to excel in the first-class game to go with his better known ability as a white-ball cricketer.

For the Dolphins, Benele Cele, Dupavillon and Subrayen each claimed two wickets while paceman Okuhle Cele was the most economical, with 1/35 from 15 overs.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Slade van Staden, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Romashan Pillay, Jon Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen, Banele Cele, Daryn Dupavillon, Okuhle Cele

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Neil Brand (capt), Joshua van Heerden, Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Jhedli van Briesies, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Boast, Schalk Engelbrecht, Tsepo Ndwandwa