Weather the winner despite Dolphins' best efforts

The KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins and the Highveld Strikers played out a predictable draw in the Supersport Series Shield competition in Durban on Sunday.

The match was plagued by rain and poor light which was a pity as the Dolphins tried to make a match of it by scoring quickly and bowling positively.

After compiling 360 in their first innings, the Dolphins restricted the Strikers to 261 all out thanks to a career-best six for 63 from 22-year-old slow left arm Goolam Bodi.

That left the hosts with a 99-run first innings lead, but with only 64 overs left to be bowled in the match it was going to be a tough ask to set a decent score and have enough time to bowl the opposition out again.

To their credit, the Dolphins' opening pair of Mark Bruyns and Doug Watson batted positively and put on 170 in 38 overs to set an unassailable score.

Bruyns scored 102 which was amassed off 120 balls with 16 boundaries and a six. Watson was unbeaten on 64 which came off only 110 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.

But the Strikers, who never had a chance of winning, shut up shop to force the draw.

They lost the wicket of Sven Koenig for 10, but Adam Bacher and Stephen Cook dug in to make sure that there was no scent of a chance for the hosts. The match was eventually called off early with a result unlikely.