Western Province take charge in Durban

Left-arm spinner Kyle Simmonds claimed 6/60, his 10th first-class five-wicket haul, to help dismiss the Hollywoodbets Dolphins for 196 in their first innings on the second day of their CSA 4-Day Series match at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

Simmonds, 30, formerly of Westville Boys’ High School, devastated the Dolphins’ batting as the home team collapsed after their openers had put on 66. After that it was all downhill as the visitors gained a first-innings lead of 16 after they had earlier been dismissed for a moderate 212 on Wednesday.

At tea, West Province had increased their overall lead to 29 with Jonathan Bird (12) and Edward Moore (1) negotiating four overs from Daryn Dupavillon and Ukuhle Cele.

The Dolphins had reached lunch on 125 for five wickets with Jason Smith the only senior batter remaining. He soon lost his junior partner, Romashan Pillay, who failed to offer a shot to Simmonds’ arm ball which shattered his stumps. Andile Simelane offered a few bold strokes, striking two sixes and a four in his 24, as did Prenelan Subrayen in his 21 (3x4s, 1x6) but the Dolphins’ innings was in irreversible decline.

Smith himself had batted carefully for 22 off 61 balls before he launched a flamboyant drive at a wide delivery from paceman Mthiwekhaya Nabe, edging to Mihlali Mpongwana in the slips. Mpongwana claimed three catches in the position during the innings, all smart grabs.

The fact that three batters were dismissed offering no stroke (Pillay, Sean Whitehead and Subrayen) is a judgment on the home team’s batsmanship and Western Province duly took advantage.

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