The Highveld Lions took too long to come to terms with the pace of the Chevrolet Park pitch and saw their bid to earn a RAM SLAM T20 home final dented as a result, as they went down to the Sunfoil Dolphins by five wickets.
While only Chris Morris (37) suggested that he was in tune with a sluggish surface as the Lions posted 121 for seven in the first game of Sunday’s triple-header, David Miller found support around him as the Dolphins coasted home with five balls to spare.
The Lions collapsed to 81 for six in the 17th over of their innings after being put in to bat, with Robbie Frylinck and Dwayne Bravo (2 for 24) taking two wickets apiece and Ryan McLaren also making an impact up front on his Twenty20 debut for the Dolphins.
That left Morris’ late blitz to dig the Lions out of a horrible hole and take them to a total with a bit more respectability, as he hit three sixes and took 23 off the penultimate over.
Even on a pitch showing a bit of variable bounce the Dolphins were unlikely to struggle - particularly with Miller back in their line-up.
After Morris and Kagiso Rabada had struck in their first overs to reduce the Dolphins to 19 for two, Miller barely played a shot in anger as he stroked an unbeaten 42 from 37 deliveries.
Miller was aided by a calm 28 by Khaya Zondo as the pair added 54 for the third wicket, and also by a cameo from Bravo (19 from 12 balls) that took the required rate below a run a ball.
Miller walked away with the RAM Slammer of the Day award, while Frylinck was the Ram Deliverer as the defending champion Dolphins exited the tournament with a victory.
LATEST STANDINGS
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Pts | Net RR | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Cobras | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 | +1.177 | 1175/145.0 | 1039/150.0 |
| Lions | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 | +0.017 | 1272/168.4 | 1318/175.1 |
| Knights | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 22 | +1.207 | 1135/136.2 | 993/139.3 |
| Dolphins | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 16 | +0.060 | 1307/169.1 | 1256/163.5 |
| Warriors | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | -1.392 | 1162/167.3 | 1348/161.5 |
| Titans | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 11 | -0.703 | 1495/184.0 | 1592/180.2 |
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
Latest posts by James Buttler (see all)
- #CWC15: South Africa geared up for tight Sri Lanka contest - March 16, 2015
- #UAE15: Bon voyage Derbyshire as Champions Yorkshire land in Abu Dhabi - March 13, 2015
- Sussex sign Mahela Jayawardene for NatWest T20 Blast - March 13, 2015
