Rain frustrates Dolphins in battle with Border

KwaZulu-Natal and Border ended the second day of their encounter pretty much all square, the visitors finishing on 126 for four when rain and bad light brought an early close, after the Dolphins had batted on for just 5.2 overs to take their total to 253 for seven, an addition of 22 runs for no further loss, before declaring.

The reason for that was that they need every bonus point they can get, as well as the 10 match points, to secure a spot in the Super Eight phase of the competition and a third batting point was just 19 runs away. However, with rain having wiped out Saturday's entire morning session, they couldn't really afford to bat on.

The decision to declare initially seemed a poor one, as Piet Botha and Craig Sugden frustrated the KwaZulu-Natal bowlers in an opening stand of 80, but once Botha had been pouched by wicketkeeper Errol Stewart, off the bowling of Jon Kent for 39, Sugden was not long in following, falling victim to the same pairing with just 17 more runs having been added, for 34.

By the close, both Wayne Wiblin, who made just seven, and Steven Pope, with 25, had also fallen, leaving skipper Pieter Strydom and Laden Gamiet, on five and nought respectively overnight, to see Border through to a first innings lead.

It doesn't really matter to Border from a statistical point of view whether they win or not. They've secured their place in the Super Eight and a victory would rule the Dolphins out, so they wouldn't carry the points gained in Durban.

However, victory is vital for the home side and they may yet find the constant weather interruptions keeping them from that target.