Dolphins beat Lions in thriller

The victory means that the Dolphins return to Kingsmead on Wednesday (1pm) to play the Eliminator against WSB Western Province.

Played in front of one of the best domestic cricket crowds of the season in Durban, all screaming their heads off as the climax approached, the Dolphins clinched victory in the final over delivered by a hapless Beyers Swanepoel with 17 needed for victory. His first ball was top-edged for four to third man by Aryan Gopolan; Swanepoel’s next delivery was hammered for a straight six as the noise levels ramped up. A single followed before Nortje flat-batted the bowler straight back over his head for a final maximum to clinch the deal.

For much of the Dolphins’ innings, it seemed that they would fall short of an intimidating target of 195 for victory established by the Lions who made 194 for two after the home team had won the toss and inserted the opposition.

But although they lost wickets regularly, the Dolphins just about maintained the required run rate. Bryce Parsons, Khaya Zondo and Jason Smith all got into the 20s but it was batter of the match Marques Ackerman who played the key role, slamming four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 49.

The diminutive left-hander was helped by useful cameos from Jon-Jon Smuts, new find Gomolelo Phiri (19 in 12 balls) and Eathan Bosch. But it seemed all up for the Dolphins when Bosch was run out and Ackerman perished in the penultimate over.

Twenty-five runs were needed off 12 balls, then 17 off six. Nobody knew if the Dolphins had the batters to complete the job under extreme pressure. Between them Gopalan and Nortje managed it handsomely.

Earlier, Rassie van der Dussen struck a blistering unbeaten 94 in 56 balls, including four fours and six sixes, to power the Lions to their total.

After a quiet opening over from Smuts, Nortje, off to India for the white-ball series, was hit for 20 off his opening pair of overs and ultimately for 49 in his full spell.

Reeza Hendricks started slowly but quickly caught up Van der Dussen and the pair both reached 26 after the power play (52/0). They took their collaboration to 78 at the halfway mark with both men looking completely in command.

The first sign of excitement, from the home team’s point of view, occurred in the 13th over when Hendricks, having gone to his 62nd T20 half-century, was dropped at long-off by Bosch off Smuts. It was a powerful blow but Bosch would have expected to take the catch. He didn’t have to feel bad for long, however, as Hendricks fell in the same over, well caught at deep square leg by Gopalan for 58 in 40 balls (3x4s, 4x6s). He and Van der Dussen had added 111 in 77 balls.

Connor Esterhuizen joined Van der Dussen and the Lions continued to punish the bowlers. The main interest was whether Van der Dussen could reach his sixth T20 hundred. Sadly, it just eluded him. Needing nine runs in the final over, he was only able to get three with Esterhuizen dismissed off the final ball from Andile Simelane for 38 (24 balls, 1x4, 3x6s).

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Bryce Parsons, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Marques Ackerman, Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Gomelelo Phiri (wk), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Aryan Gopalan, Anrich Nortje, Zedan Mahomed

DP WORLD LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Richard Seletswane, Connor Esterhuizen, Mitchell van Buuren (capt), Evan Jones, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Beyers Swanepoel, Zakwan Patel, Siya Plaatjie, Rafeeq Patel