DAY 4: Muthusamy leads Warriors to victory over Dolphins

Senuran was at his best with bat and ball as he led the Dafabet Warriors to a 37-run victory over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at Dafabet St George's Park on Sunday.

This is the Warriors’ first victory in the four-day series. The Gqeberha side came into the match with a dismal record of three losses and three draws. They needed to win to boost their chances of surviving relegation.

Muthusamy's first victory was at the toss. The Warriors' captain won the toss and elected to bat first. Muthusamy found himself at the crease sooner than he had envisioned at the toss. The Warriors were floundering on 40 for four after 17.3 overs when he took guard.

The 31-year-old shared the crease with six partners and outlasted them all on his way to an unbeaten 106 off 216 balls. This is his ninth first-class century. His effort catapulted the Warriors to 264.

The Dolphins did not do well in their reply. Several players got starts but none converted that to notable scores. Prenelan Subrayen was left marooned on 49 not out as the visitors crumbled for 208. Subrayen was the top-scorer and Khaya Zondo was the next best with a brisk 46 off 55 balls. The Dolphins' progress was hampered by CJ King's bowling. The younger pacer bagged his maiden first-class five-wicket haul as he gave the Warriors the advantage. He finished with five wickets for 61 runs in 15 overs.

COURAGEOUS KING

King's older brother, JP, buttressed the Warriors' advantage in the match with an outstanding 143 off 179 during the third innings. He carved 14 fours and five sixes on his way to a maiden first-class century. He seemed to be batting on a different surface. None of the other Warriors' batters reached the 50-run mark. The next best batter for the hosts was Jiveshan Pillay with 40 off 72 deliveries.

JP King's effort steered the Warriors to 325 and a 381-run lead. Victory looked certain after Muthusamy and Raubenheimer skittled out the Dolphins' top order cheaply. However, Khaya Zondo and Jason Smith staged a fightback with a 132-run fifth-wicket stand.

Raubenheimer worked his magic to break the partnership, Andile Mogakane dismissed Zondo a short while later, and Muthusamy grabbed his fourth wicket in the innings to put the Warriors back in control. Muthusamy dismissed Tristan Luus after tea to complete his 15th first-class five-wicket haul and draw his side closer to victory. Siya Plaatjie bagged the wicket that clinched the game.

Zondo was the third centurion in the match. He made 118 off 174 balls. Eathan Bosch was left unbeaten on 80 off 96. The allrounder ran out of partners as Muthusamy and company dismissed his partners.

Muthusamy finished the innings with five wickets for 95 runs in 35 overs. His haul of seven wickets in the match made him the Warriors' most successful bowler in the match. Dolphins' speedster Tristan Luus was the third bowler to register a five-wicket haul in the contest. He took five wickets for 90 runs in 25 overs in the Warriors' second innings. Unfortunately, his effort wasn't enough to help the visitors secure victory.

WARRIORS: Jiveshan Pillay, Jordan Hermann, Matthew de Villiers, JP King, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Andile Mogakane, CJ King, Jason Raubenheimer, Siyabulela Plaatjie, Renaldo Meyer.

DOLPHINS: Sarel Erwee (capt), Tshepang Dithole (wk), Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith, Khaya Zondo, Romashan Pillay, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Daryn Dupavillon, Tristan Luus, Okuhle Cele.