Dolphins recover but Border on top

KwaZulu-Natal woke up with a jolt after a painstaking first session at Kingsmead, having been put in to bat by visitors Border on Friday, to end the first day in sight of a third batting bonus point on 231 for seven.

They had reached that mark when bad light forced an early close after 92 overs, 12 short of the day's complement, which means the Dolphins, who must take at least 15 points from the match to overhaul Eastern Province and secure a spot in the Super Eight phase of the competition, have another eight overs to add the extra 19 for a third point. Anything less than victory, though, means they'd be set to join last season's champions, the Highveld Strikers, in the ranks of the also-rans.

Mark Bruyns and Doug Watson opened the home side's innings with a tortuous display, putting on just 31 runs off 29 overs before rain mercifully ended the morning session 20 minutes early. After lunch, left-armer Liam Graham snapped both up quickly, Bruyns having made 12 from 97 balls and Watson 14 from 98, before the Dolphins upped the tempo.

Jon Kent lasted just five balls before Vasbert Drakes bowled him for a duck, but Ashraf Mall finally got the boundaries flowing - none were hit before lunch - with four fours in his 36 and, once he was out, captain Dale Benkenstein, who top-scored with 86, and wicketkeeper Errol Stewart (29) fashioned a stand of 107 in 93 minutes for the fifth wicket. The partnership took only 181 deliveries.

With Wade Wingfield finishing unbeaten on 25 - Eldine Baptiste is his partner on a single - the Dolphins had just about got themselves out of the hole by the end of the day, but there is plenty of work ahead against a formidable Border side.