CENTURY MACHINE: Dithole’s bat roars as Dolphins dominate Lions

Hollywoodbets Dolphins opener Tshepang Dithole struck his second century in consecutive matches to lead his team to 302 for six wickets at the close of the opening day of their CSA 4-Day Series match against the DP World Lions at Kingsmead on Wednesday.

Dolphins’ skipper Keshav Maharaj won the toss and understandably chose to bat first on a flat pitch on a glorious sunny day. Despite the odds favouring the batters, the Lions’ bowlers stuck to their task well, bowling wicket to wicket for the most part and rarely giving their opponents easy runs. In view of the conditions, the visitors could claim their fair share of the day’s honours.

Indeed, they started particularly well with Beyers Swanepoel trapping Romashan Pillay leg before for a duck in the second over, the ball tracking back to hit him on the front pad. Pillay, newly promoted to open the batting, has had a rough start to his tenure, suffering a first-baller in Paarl.

Dithole, full of confidence after scoring a century and a half-century in the Dolphins’ victory over Boland the previous week, batted fluently, driving particularly well through the covers, and he dominated a fifty partnership with Slade van Staden before the latter was well caught in the gully, driving loosely at Delano Potgieter.

BACK TO BACK 100s FOR TSHEPANG DITHOLE 🤩🙌

Hollywoodbets Dolphins superstar, Tshepang Dithole brings up his second century in as many matches in the 4-Day Series off just 175 balls at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium 🤩🙌

Dithole started the 4-Day series with a brilliant 116… pic.twitter.com/FO9RrSqA1G

— Dolphins Cricket (@DolphinsCricket) October 8, 2025

Dithole and Bryce Parsons took the total to 109 at lunch and took their partnership to 102 in 212 balls in the afternoon before Parsons (42) drove loosely at a wide one from Lutho Sipamla immediately after the drinks break, falling to a fine low catch from Lions’ skipper Dom Hendricks in the slips.

Dithole reached his seventh first-class century before falling to promising left-arm spinner Sipho Potsane, on debut, driving him somewhat carelessly to mid-off where Richard Seletswane took a good low catch. The diminutive left-hander, in a rich vein of form, struck 19 fours in his 104 in 185 balls.

The experienced Khaya Zondo and wicketkeeper-batter Hanu Viljoen settled the innings down, adding 70 for the fifth wicket before Zondo (45) was bowled by Swanepoel in the first over of the second new ball, the ball ripping through his defences. The new cherry provided another wicket for the Lions, with debutant Semal Pillay bowled by Potgieter with a delivery that kept a little low.

That was the end of the Lions’ successes with the ice-cool Viljoen striking eight fours in his unbeaten 57 in 113 balls, accompanied by Eathan Bosch (12*). The pair added 26 to take the Dolphins to their final total.

The Lions’ pacemen had a hard day in the sun, but never stopped running in and bowling with good discipline on an unfriendly surface. Swanepoel was the pick of them, claiming 2-37 in 20 overs. Potgieter also took two wickets while Sipamla and Potsane took one apiece.

Score: Dolphins 306 for 6 in 97 overs.