Dolphins romp to nine-wicket win in SBC semifinal

The KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins galloped to a nine-wicket victory over Eastern Province on the back of a run-a-ball century opening partnership in the first leg of their Standard Bank Cup semi-final at St George's Park on Wednesday night.

With Gulam Bodi hammering out 56 off 50 balls and Doug Watson putting together a more measured 72 not out, the Natalians made light of a two-paced pitch and the EP attack to romp home with 13 of their 45 overs to spare.

Defending a total of 172 for nine, the home team were simply unable to contain Bodi and Watson once the Natal pair had settled and after 92 had come off the first 15 overs of the innings the outcome had already been decided to all intents and purposes.

The first-wicket stand eventually yielded 111 off 110 deliveries before Bodi, who had helped himself to eight fours all around the wicket, chanced his arm once too often, mishitting the offspinner Shafiek Abrahams to hole out to Dave Callaghan at long off. His departure, however, brought in Wade Wingfield who promptly picked up where Bodi had left off.

Wingfield crunched out an unbeaten 40 off 52 balls, finishing the match with a straight six off Robin Peterson while Watson's innings took him 92 deliveries and and included six fours and two sixes. It was a good enough effort to earn him the man of the match award.

It was as comprehensive a drubbing as the Natalians might have hoped for and it should make them firm favourites for Friday's second leg at Kingsmead.

The EP innings was an undistinguished affair, slipping quickly to 6 for two before a succession of middle order batsmen played themselves in only to get themselves out.

In the end James Bryant's 31 was the top score with Dave Callaghan making 30 as the home side struggled to come to terms with the pitch and a Natal attack which stuck to the basics well. As might have been expected, Shaun Pollock showed few ill-effects from his trip to Australia earlier in the week, finishing with two for 23 off his nine overs, while Eldine Baptiste was also almost impossible to hit, bowling his nine out in one spell for two for 29.

There was even time among this for Lance Klusener to trundle up two overs of off spin. He conceded only nine, but on the evidence of this effort, he might be well advised to stick to his day job.