The Dolphins have won the One Day Cup title by beating Boland by four wickets in Paarl on Sunday.

There was unexpected rain and overcast conditions in Paarl on Sunday, The Dolphins won the toss and opted to bowl first, taking full advantage of the conditions.

The home side struggled to get started, reduced to 16-2 after 4.6 overs. The top order continued to struggle, and after 11.2 overs, Boland were 23-4, Maharaj (2-36) in particular finding the breakthroughs.

The home side can feel hard-done by due to three shocking umpiring decisions. All three lbw decisions, Blayde Capell, Gavin Kaplan and Aviwe Mgijima, were contentious and up for debate. One lbw call was 50/50, but the other two were clearly not out.

The terrible umpiring decisions continued when Grant Roelofsen (41 off 60 balls) was giving out. He was given caught behind, missing the ball by a massive distance.

Boland was 73-5 after 20.5. Shaun von Berg was the next wicket to fall, chopping Tristan Luus onto his stumps halfway through the 26th over, restricting the hosts to 90-6.

Clyde Reeves-Fortuin played a captain’s knock for his side. He scored 54 off 64 balls before Bryce Parson took a blinding one-handed catch on the edge of the circle at mid-wicket.

Ayabulela Gqamane also contributed with a crucial knock. His role was to bat as deep as possible to give Boland a fighting chance in the match.

He was well supported by Imraan Manack. The pair strung together a match-changing 96-run partnership a record for the 8th wicket for Boland.

Gqamane was caught and bowled by Andile Simelane after a quality 69 off 77 balls (7 fours, 1 six).

Manack showed incredible big-match temperament, finishing with 50* off 39 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes).

Boland posted 247-8 in their 50 overs.

The Dolphins managed to stay within their required rate throughout the match. Jon-Jon Smuts was the key batter for his side with 91 off 111 balls. Contributiions from Khaya Zondo (45 off 44 balls) and Bryce Parsons (30 off 40 balls) were also key.

Dolphins were 233-5 when Manack finished his overs with a wicket. The visitors needing 15 off 12.

The final over, Dolphins needed 3 runs to win. They got over the line with 5 balls remaining.

They won 4-wickets.