Johannesburg – The Dolphins dominated with bat and ball on Wednesday night, coasting to a 54-run victory over the Warriors in their domestic T20 clash in Durban.
With the visitors chasing 182 to win, the hosts got off to a superb start up front, led by pacemen Craig Alexander and Rabian Engelbrecht, who bagged two wickets each.
They restricted the Dolphins top order to five for 33 in the eighth over, and while opener Somila Seyibokwe made 39 runs and Simon Harmer hit 23 in a recovery attempt, they were removed by Robbie Frylinck in a double-strike as the hosts strengthened their grip on the game to secure a comfortable win.
Earlier, the Dolphins had been anchored by former Proteas batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld and veteran West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo after they won the toss and chose to bat.
Van Jaarsveld smashed his ninth T20 half-century, contributing an unbeaten 51 off 33 balls in a 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Bravo, who hit 43 from 25 deliveries with three sixes.
Seamer Rusty Theron took one for 25, delivering a fine display to contain the hosts at the death, and all-rounder JJ Smuts returned two for 21 to lead the Warriors attack, but Van Jaarsveld and Bravo lifted their side to a solid 181 for four.
While the Dolphins managed to hit back after a six-wicket defeat to the Highveld Lions in their T20 series opener last week, the Warriors remained without a win in the early stages of the campaign. – Sapa