Maharaj takes career-best T20 figures as Dolphins win T20 Challenge opener
Figures of four for 15 from Keshav Maharaj helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a 14 run Betway T20 Challenge opening win against the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Maharaj then came back for his second spell where he picked up the wickets of De Zorzi and Verreynne in the same over before George Linde fell to Prenelan Subrayen in the following over with the score on 71.
Maharaj then dismissed Jason Smith in the following over and Rob Frylinck picked up another wicket in the fifteenth over to leave the Cobras in tatters at 80 for six.
Calvin Savage was then caught in the deep to put the chase to bed despite a valiant 41 not out from Christiaan Jonker.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat first the Dolphins innings stuttered early on as Grant Roelofsen was run-out with score on just one. Then just seventeen runs later they lost their second wicket, Sarel Erwee caught behind for seven.
Senuran Muthumsamy and Dave Miller attempted to resurrect the innings with a 32 run partnership before the Dolphins suffered their second run-out of the innings as dangerman Miller fell for 16.
Muthusamy was joined by Khaya Zondo who was positive from the get-go and showed his intentions early which gave the Dolphins some sort of momentum.
Left-hander Muthusamy fell for 17 with the score on 63 and the Dolphins needed another building period as Zondo continued to play his shots.
Andile Phehlukwayo was part of a 43 run stand with Zondo before he was out LBW reverse sweeping George Linde for 13.
Zondo found another partner in Frylinck as the pair took the innings into the final over.
Before that Zondo went to an important half century off 35 balls that helped the Dolphins to a defendable total.
Left-arm spinner for the Cobras Siyabonga Mahima picked up a hat-trick in the final over as the Dolphins chased as many runs as possible.
Frylinck fell for 17, Zondo was then dismissed for 59 and Subrayen was caught in the deep off the penultimate delivery of the innings.
The Dolphins ended on 155 for eight from their 20 overs which proved to be enough to start their campaign with a win.