Pietermaritzburg – After losing a day and a half to the elements, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the VKB Knights had to settle for a draw in their CSA 4-Day Franchise Series clash at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Thursday.
Heading into the final day only one innings had been completed with the Knights 174 for six at the start of the day.
Dolphins seamer Keith Dudgeon dominated the morning session when he picked up three wickets for four runs in nine deliveries.
The Dolphins would have felt like they could claim the last wicket cheaply, however a 28 run partnership between innings hero Rudi Second and Tshepo Ntuli meant that the home needed to bat quickly to get a defendable score.
Eventually the Knights declared on 206 for nine, trailing the Dolphins by 148 runs.
Eathan Bosch was the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for 82 while Dudgeon picked up three for 32.
In their second innings the Dolphins knew they needed quick runs and Sarel Erwee and captain Khaya Zondo provided those.
Thamsanqa Khumalo fell cheaply for nine and first innings hero Marques Ackerman was dismissed for a single.
Erwee notched up an important half century and finished with 57 off 72 balls. He and captain Zondo added 94 in just 12 overs.
Zondo was belligerent on his way to 59 off just 45 balls. He ended not out with Sibz Makhanya the other not out batsman on five.
The Dolphins declared their second innings on 146 for three, giving the Knights 295 runs to win the match off 65 overs.
Bosch continued his good form with the ball when he picked up Grant Mokoena cheaply, however from there the Knights put the Dolphins bowlers under pressure.
Rynardt van Tonder and Keagan Petersen both registered half centuries and put on 126 for the second wicket in 28 overs.
Van Tonder was the second wicket to fall, caught Erwee bowled Bosch for 60 and he was closely followed by Pite van Biljoen – caught by wicket keeper Grant Roelofsen off Bosch for nine.
Rudi Second joined Petersen and he proceeded to throw caution to the wind and scored quickly.
He was 32 not out off 22 deliveries and Petersen was 71 not out off 92 balls when the captains shook hands and the game was called a draw.
Dolphins batsman Marques Ackerman was nominated as player of the match.
The Dolphins travel to East London where they take on the Warriors from 21 to 24 January.
The post Sporting draw in Maritzburg appeared first on Hollywoodbets Dolphins.
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