Lions outlast Dolphins in T20 Challenge clash

Durban – The Imperial Lions bowlers managed to restrict the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to 148 for eight as they claimed an eight run win in their CSA T20 Challenge clash on Thursday.

The Lions won the toss and chose to bat first in the second match of the competition for both sides.

It was a positive start from the Johannesburg-based side who were aggressive with the bat but the Dolphins managed to pin them back by taking wickets.

All-rounder Ruan de Swart picked up the first wicket for the Dolphins when he trapped the dangerous Reeza Hendricks in front for ten then in the next over fellow all-rounder Jason Smith got in the act.

He bagged the wicket of the other opener Joshua Richards for 15, caught by Andile Phehlukwayo with the total on 34.

Mitchell van Buuren became the third wicket to fall in the powerplay when he fell to De Swart for six – caught by the captain Prenelan Subrayen.

The Lions finished the powerplay on 47 for the loss of three wickets.

Through the first half of their innings the Lions continued to score at a rapid rate and at the end of the tenth over the Gauteng side were 77 for three.

Shane Dadswell was being destructive until Odirile Modimokoane picked up his wicket via a great catch in the deep from Keegan Petersen for 42.

Dom Hendricks was then adjudged LBW off skipper Prenelan Subrayen for 14 while Ruan Haasbroek was well caught by Subrayen to give De Swardt his third wicket.

Sisanda Magala smashed 37 off 27 and Bjorn Fortuin made 13 before both fell to Jason Smith – who returned with figures of three for 16 in three overs.

The last three overs went for just 14 with two wickets falling which helped the Dolphins restrict the Lions to 156 for eight in their 20 overs.

The reply for the Dolphins got off to the worst possible start when they lost Keegan Petersen early and then two balls later Andile Phehulkwayo was also back in the change room.

Dave Miller hit a pair of boundaries before he was caught and bowled by Codi Yusuf for nine.

The Dolphins finished the powerplay on 31 for three, sixteen runs shy of the Lions at the same stage.

At the halfway stage of the innings the Dolphins had lost another wicket when Grant Roelofsen was caught at point for 34. They were 65 for four, still needing 92 off the final 60 deliveries.

Khaya Zondo and Jason Smith gave the Dolphins a sniff with a valuable 60 run partnership before Zondo fell in the seventeenth over, bowled by Sisanda Magala for 35.

The final three overs saw the Dolphins need 38 off 18 deliveries with five wickets in the bank.

Bryce Parsons holed out first ball trying to chase down the target and in the final twelve balls the Dolphins needed 29 runs to win.

Smith was run out off the first ball of the final over for a fighting 39 off 34 balls.

The Dolphins face the Warriors on Saturday in their third match of the CSA T20 Challenge.

SUMMARY OF THE RESULT
Imperial Lions 156/8 (S Dadswell 42 S Magala 37 R de Swardt 3/32 J Smith 3/16)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins (J Smith 39 K Zondo G Roelofsen 34)

Lions win by eight runs

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