Khaya Zondo’s half-century and Ottniel Baartman’s 4-18, sealed a final spot for the Dolphin in the CSA T20 Knock Out.
The semi-final between the Dolphins and the Titans was a tight affair, both sides swung the pendulum in their direction in periods throughout the match.
The Titans batted first, and it seemed that the Dolphins had the upper hand after the top order found themselves in a spot of bother at 38-4, while Gihahn Cloete searched for someone to stick around with him in the middle.
The Titans’ hero from the quarter-final, Donavon Ferreira, temporarily answered the call, helping his side to 100 before losing his wicket, 26 off 27 balls being all he could manage.
Cloete Managed to score a 49-ball 62 (7 fours, 1 six) but it was Corbin Bosch’s quickfire 11-ball 21 that helped the Titans to post 138, a total that would have seemed difficult to defend.
Ottniel Baartman was the star for his side with 4/18.
The Titans bowlers, however, took the fight to the Dolphins, making it hard for them to score. They managed to restrict them 97/5 after 14.3 overs.
When Sarel Erwee lost his wicket after a 31-ball 33, the Titans spirits lifted, giving them a chance to get back into the match. Dayyaan Galiem’s wicket of Erwee on the last ball of the 13th over and the wicket of Jason Smith halfway through the 15th over swung the momentum in his side’s favour. Harmer dismissed Bryce Parsons in between that spell to add further pressure on the KZN side.
When the 6th wicket fell, the Dolphins needed 20 off 15. Khaya Zondo got stuck in and took his side over the line.
In the 19th over, he brought up his half-century with a sweep for four, and he added a four, six and single to take the game to the final over with two required for victory.
Zondo and Daryn Dupavvilon hit the last two runs, Zondo ending with 58 off 45 balls (five fours and two sixes).
The Dolphins won by 4 wickets.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
