Durban – A measured run chase from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins saw them claim a four wicket win over Goldrush Boland and with it win the One Day Cup for the 2024/2025 season.

The Dolphins completed a run of six consecutive wins on Sunday when they beat a fancied Boland side in Paarl and claim their first piece of silverware for the season.

The men from Durban showed their mettle to chase down a difficult 247 in tough conditions as Jon-Jon Smuts led the way with a powerful 91. The knock took Smuts to the top of the competition run scorer’s list. It was a strong start with the ball from the Dolphins who restricted the home side to 23 for four inside the first twelve overs of the innings.

Prenelan Subrayen picked up the first wicket of Blayde Capell for two. Gavin Kaplan was then trapped in front for six by Keshav Maharaj. Aviwe Mgijima was also adjudged LBW off Maharaj before Lehan Botha was bowled by Andile Simelane for one.

The home side consolidated well through Grant Roelofsen and captain Clyde Fortuin. The pair put on 50 for the fifth wicket before Roelofsen was caught behind for 41. Boland then fell to 90 for six when Shaun von Berg was bowled by Tristan Luus for eight.

Aya Gqamane and Fortuin combined for a 52 run partnership that took Boland to 142 in the 38th over. Fortuin was caught by Parsons off the bowling of Luus for 54 as the Dolphins tried to press home their advantage.

Gqamane and Imran Manack then combined for critical 96 run stand with the former making a crucial 69 while Manak made 50 not out. Boland finished on 247 for eight in their 50 overs with two wickets each for Maharaj, Luus, Simelane and Prenelan Subrayen.

In reply the Dolphins lost Tshepang Dithole for 11, caught behind off the bowling of Glenton Stuurman. Jon-Jon Smuts and Bryce Parsons then combined to add 63 for the second wicket to take the Dolphins to 82 in fifteen overs.

Parsons was the second wicket to fall for 30 off 40 balls. Just three runs later the Dolphins lost their third wicket. Jason Smith was adjudged LBW off Siya Mahima for one. The crucial stand came next when Smuts and Khaya Zondo added 78 for the fourth wicket.

Zondo cruised to 45 off 44 balls before he was caught on the sweep in the 33rd over of the chase. It was Hanu Viljoen again who provided the Dolphins with a calm head heading into the final ten overs.

After the final drinks break Smuts chipped one back to Mahima for 91 and the Dolphins were 189 for five.

At the loss of the Smuts wicket the Dolphins needed 59 runs to win off 70 balls. Good bowling from Boland meant the Dolphins continued to have to work hard for their runs and when they lost Eathan Bosch for 20 they needed 15 off 12 balls.

Andile Simelane hit the final ball of the penultimate over for six which meant the Dolphins needed just three from the final six balls.

Fittingly it was Viljoen who hit the winning runs as he finished on 35 not out and Simelane ended on seven not out.

It was a memorable four wicket win for the Dolphins who win their first 50 over title since they shared the honours with the Lions in 2020/2021.

SUMMARY OF SCORE

Goldrush Boland 247/8 (A Gqamane 69 C Fortuin 54 I Manack 50*)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins 248/6 (J Smuts 91 K Zondo 45 H Viljoen 35*)

Dolphins win by four wickets