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Delport, top order give Dolphins eight-wicket win

Round-up of the CSA T20 Challenge matches on November 25, 2016

File photo - Cameron Delport gave Dolphins' chase a rapid start  •  BCCI

File photo - Cameron Delport gave Dolphins' chase a rapid start  •  BCCI

Cameron Delport's all-round performance and Dolphins' top order steered them to a comfortable eight-wicket win against Knights in Bloemfontein, to earn their second win from five matches. Knights, on the other hand, suffered their third defeat in four matches.
Knights' openers Patrick Kruger and Andries Gous scored 28 each, after they opted to bat, but both were removed in Delport's consecutive overs after the Powerplay. Captain Theunis de Bruyn then led them to a competitive 153 for 8 with an unbeaten 63 off 41. It was his fourth T20 fifty in his first match of the tournament and featured six fours and a six. Delport finished with 3 for 26.
Dolphins hardly stuttered in their chase. They reached 50 in 5.1 overs but lost Delport for a 24-ball 36 on the next ball. Morne van Wyk, the other opener, and Cody Chetty combined for a commanding stand of 86 runs in only 11.1 overs to keep them ahead of the asking rate. Van Wyk fell for 56 of 43 in the 17th over and soon Khaya Zondo sealed the chase with a four in the penultimate over. Chetty was unbeaten on 46 off 38.
Lions fell to a third loss in four games, with Christiaan Jonker helping Warriors breeze to their target of 153 with 13 balls and six wickets to spare. The win bumped Warriors up to No. 2 on the points table.
Lions elected to bat and were off to a decent start, getting to 97 for 1 in the 15th. But none of their middle over could get going, and it was up to No. 3, Mangaliso Mosehle, who struck 49 off 28, to take the total past 150. JJ Smuts was the most effective of the Warriors bowlers: his left-arm spin accounted for both the openers after they were set, and he was miserly in taking 2 for 15 in his four.
Smuts and Somila Seyibokwe laid the platform in the chase, before both were out in quick succession, and a couple more quick wickets followed to put the wobbles on Warriors. However, Jonker then launched his counterattack, thumping 49 off 18 with three fours and five sixes to seal the deal for Warriors.
Titans v Cape Cobras in Centurion was a no result, with only 11 overs possible across both innings. The teams shared points, taking two each. The match was reduced to ten overs a side, and Cobras got to 115 for 4 in their allotment, with Richard Levi setting up the innings with 45 off 27 before Rory Kleinveldt put on the finishing touches with 28 off eight with four sixes. Titans could manage only one over in their reply, before play was called off.