08 Oct BAARTMAN, ERWEE INSPIRE DOLPHINS TO EIGHT-WICKET WIN IN POOL C OPENER
BLOEMFONTEIN: A career-best spell from fast bowler, Ottniel Baartman (4/20) and a destructive half-century by Sarel Erwee helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a convincing, eight-wicket victory over the North West Dragons in Bloemfontein today.
The contest at the Mangaung Oval kicked off proceedings in Pool C of the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Provincial T20 Knock Out Competition, with the two Division One sides looking to make an early statement in effort to fill the remaining quarter-final spots.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Dolphins seamers were immediately put under pressure by Dragons’ openers, Wesley Marshall (18) and Eben Botha (41).
The pair found the boundary at regular intervals before Baartman got the breakthrough. Losing his partner did not slow down Botha though, he continued to bat at a strike rate of over 200 in a 36-run stand with Shaylen Pillay (8).
Both men eventually fell to the Dolphins spin attack led by captain, Prenelan Subrayen (1/19) and rising star, Bryce Parsons (2/18). They struck at key moments to leave North West at 83/3 at the halfway mark, before Baartman returned to the fray to take the game away from the opposition.
The strike bowler bagged two more scalps in the 14th over with the Dragons finding it difficult to keep the scoreboard ticking. Baartman then claimed the final wicket to fall in the innings and with that, his career-best T20 figures, to limit the team based in Potcheftsroom to a below par 128/8 after 20 overs.
Faced with just over a run-a-ball needed to win, the Dolphins looked comfortable in their pursuit of the 129-run target for victory.
Openers, Erwee and youngster, Thamsanqa Khumalo (12) combined for a solid 47-run partnership to lay the platform for a successful chase.
Despite Khumalo falling just after the powerplay, Erwee continued to dominate at the crease, this time, alongside Grant Roelofson (39*), in a stand worth 62 runs to firmly move into the driving seat.
Former Dolphins stalwart, Senuran Muthusamy (1/26) finally removed Erwee for an outstanding 50-ball 68 (3 fours, 5 sixes) in the 14th over but it was a consolation as Roelofson and Marques Ackerman (7*) finished the game off with 4.5 overs to spare.
The emphatic win gives the Dolphins a crucial bonus point and a spot at the top of Pool C with two games to go against the Eastern Storm and the South Africa under-19s.
Friday, 08 October 2021
Eastern Storm vs SA under-19s at 14h30
Saturday, 09 October 2021
SA under-19s vs North West Dragons at 10H00
Eastern Storm vs Hollywoodbets Dolphins at 14h00
Sunday, 10 October 2021
Hollywoodbets Dolphins vs SA under-19s at 10h00
Eastern Storm vs North West Dragons at 14h30
Media Enquiries:
| Team | Media Contact | Contact | |
| Hollywoodbets Dolphins | Krystl Rangiah | krystlr@cricket.co.za | 066 288 0808 |
| North West Dragons | Alungile Nyakambi | alungilen@cricket.za | ‘084 204 3689 |
| SA under-19s | Blanche Conradie | blanche.condradie@up.ac.za | 072 799 8540 |
| Eastern Storm | Berrelyn Platt | berrelynp@cricket.co.za | 083 512 3633 |
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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