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Dolphins surprise at home
09/04/2008 22:06 - (SA)
Durban - After any number of rather indifferent showings this past cricket season, the Dolphins really came good against the Titans in their Standard Bank Pro20 match at Kingsmead on Wednesday night.
They posted a bonus point victory by 38 runs after bowling out the Titans for 93 in reply to their 131 for six after having lost the toss.
The Dolphins had made an impressive start to both their batting and bowling efforts when first they plundered 32 runs off the first five overs bowled by the Titans for the loss of one wicket and then by taking three early wickets when the Gauteng men batted for 26 runs.
It may well have been four but batsman Heino Kuhn escaped being run out on two by a whisker - after referral to the TV umpire.
But it was soon four for 37 when Grant Rowley claimed his second catch when the hard-hitting Roelof van der Merwe was snapped up for 22 off Yusuf Abdullah.
Abdullah was most impressive in his four-over spell with three for 26 that earned him the Masterblaster bowler for the match.
Considering that the Titans were only chasing 132, it was a major setback especially when Kuhn became the third caught-behind man for 4 - snapped up by Pierre de Bruyn who had taken over the gloves from Daryn Smit to allow the number one keeper a chance of bowling his accurate legs spinners.
Worse was to follow
Half the side were back in the dressing room for 48 off 8.5 overs. And worse was to follow when Farhaan Beharden (3) holed out in the deep to Rowley who held his third catch of the innings off Mhlongo. At 55 for six it was an unexpected turn of events for the 4 500 spectators.
Then came the defining moment. Albie Morkel, the one man who could save the day, had his back to a return from Morne van Vuuren in the deep only to hear the death rattle of a direct hit. He was out for 22 after hitting three fours.
And when Nel, also with his back to the ball, was run out in the same manner without scoring it was all over for the Titans as Ethy Mbhalati was leg before to Smit for two.
When they batted, the Dolphins raced towards an imposing total. Or so it seemed until spinners Van der Merwe and Francois du Plessis put the brakes on their effort with only former Titans man Pierre de Bruyn (44 not out off 40 balls with three fours and a six) really mastering the attack. Only astute field placing by Titans captain Pierre Joubert stopped him from reaching a half-century. But he was adjudged Masterblaster batsman in the end.
Veteran opening batsman Doug Watson, back after injury, scored a decisive 30 at the top of the Dolphins innings.
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Rugby
