HollywoodBets Dolphins 344/7
Bizhub Highveld Lions 226
Dolphins won by 118 runs
Potchefstroom – A bruising century from Vaughn Van Jaarsveld saw the Dolphins take firm control of the Momentum One-Day Cup log with an overwhelming victory against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom on Wednesday night.
Van Jaarsveld scored 108 off only 77 balls pounding the Lions attack into submission to help set up a record equalling total for the visitors.
The Lions would have needed one of their top four to score a century too but that didn’t happen as disciplined new ball bowling from Rabian Engelbrecht and Rob Frylinck kept the home team’s batsmen under pressure, leading to some injudicious stroke-play.
The foundation for the Dolphins’ victory was set by Van Jaasrveld and his opening partner Morne van Wyk who put on 162 in just 25 overs. The veteran Van Wyk scored 54 off 83 balls, but he could afford to be that sedate given the fireworks Van Jaasrveld was producing against his former team at the other end.
The Lions would have quickly regretted their decision to field after Dominic Hendricks won the toss, with Van Jaarsveld punishing some poor bowling by smashing the ball to all parts of Senwes Park. In one incredible instance against the left-arm spin of Aaron Phangiso, he hit back-to-back sixes the second of which ended up in the driveway of a nearby house.
His 50 had come off 38 balls, and he accelerated thereafter going to his 100, the eighth of his career off just 72 deliveries. When he was trapped lbw by Wiaan Mulder, the best of the Lions bowlers, he’d already hit 14 fours and three sixes.
There was some brief respite for the Lions after they dismissed the two openers, as the Dolphins had a brief slump losing three wickets for 18 runs in four overs. But then Andile Phehlukwayo hammered his ways to a maiden one-day half-century, with some towering sixes.
He was dismissed off the final ball of the innings, caught on the long-off boundary for 64 (47b, 5x4, 3x6) but the havoc he wreaked propelled the Dolphins to a substantial total at the end.
The Lions’ reply never got going, with Reeza Hendricks their leading scorer in the competition this season, dismissed in the sixth over, caught at slip by Van Jaarsveld off Engelbrecht for 12.
The Lions’ top order imploded and they were reduced 56/4 by the 14th over, their chances of victory gone. Skipper Dominic Hendricks played a lone hand scoring 98 off 99 balls hitting five fours and a six.
Imran Tahir picked up 3/49 in his 10 overs, while there two wickets each for Frylinck and Engelbrecht.
The result – in which the Dolphins also earned a bonus point - virtually assures them of a spot in at least the play-off game, but they will now be keen on maintaining top spot with an eye on possibly hosting the final.
The Lions are now in ‘must win’ territory and they face neighbours the Titans at the Wanderers on Friday in their next match.