Dolphins beat Dragons – may yet qualify for the semifinal

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins comfortably beat the North West Dragons by seven wickets with 31 balls to spare in a rain-affected CSA One-Day Cup match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

It was the Dolphins' fourth consecutive win, a superb recovery from a poor start, but under normal circumstances this would still have left them one point short of qualifying for the playoffs.

But in a very South African twist to this particular tale, it is understood that Cricket South Africa are considering docking franchise points for not following CSA’s requirements for the correct racial composition of teams in an earlier match in the competition. If this happens, the Dolphins understand that they would qualify for the semifinal.

If that is indeed the case, and nothing has been officially announced yet, the Dolphins will qualify to play the Momentum Multiply Titans at SuperSport Park.

If there is uncertainty about the playoffs in the corridors of power, the Dolphins had few problems on the field as they comfortably overcame the Dragons’ total of 246 for seven which was reduced to 211 in 40 overs after rain delayed play for an hour with the visitors on 148 for three in 25.3 overs.

Tshepang Dithole went early but Jon-Jon Smuts, once again in imperious form, struck his fifth half-century of the competition to set the Dolphins on their way. Smuts added 88 with Bryce Parson who overcame a hamstring strain while fielding to strike a classy 39 in 40 balls.

Smuts then added 56 with Jason Smith before he was run-out going for a quick single with Lesiba Ngoepe throwing down the stumps. Smuts, who struck 10 fours in his 75 in 73 balls was not best pleased by the tight decision but, as it turned out, it made no difference to the result as Smith, who struck his second half-century in consecutive matches (61* in 64 balls) and Khaya Zondo (26* at a run a ball), saw their team through to victory with an unbroken half-century stand.

Earlier, Dolphins’ captain Prenelan Subrayen made the decision to put the home team into bat after winning the toss, and, as the Dolphins’ principal offspinner, he made a valuable contribution to their eventual victory, conceding only 22 runs in his 10 overs and claiming the wickets of Lesiba Ngoepe and Matthew Kleinveldt.

Paceman Tristan Luus gave him excellent support, bowling with good gas and claiming the key scalps of opener Meeka-eel Prince and Janneman Malan. His first five overs were outstanding as he took 2/13 in his opening spell. Altogether he claimed 2/36 in eight overs.

The Dragons’ innings was built on the foundations of a second-wicket partnership of 69 between Prince (38) and Malan (28) and then a seventh-wicket partnership of 74 between Wihan Lubbe and Ruan de Swardt. The two left-handers initially played with patience but gradually increased the run-rate with Lubbe finally falling for 69 in 86 balls while De Swardt, an ex-Dolphin, finished unbeaten on 45 in 50 deliveries.

NORTH WEST DRAGONS: Rubin Hermann, Meeka-eel Prince, Janneman Malan, Wihan Lubbe, Migael Pretorius, Lesiba Ngoepe, Matthew Kleinveldt, Ruan de Swardt, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Achille Cloete

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Jon-Jon Smuts, Tshepang Dithole, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Khaya Zondo, Hanu Viljoen (wk), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Prenelan Subrayen, Tristan Luus, Okuhle Cele