Boland opt to bat against Dolphins

Goldrush Boland have won the toss and have decided to bat first against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in a titanic CSA T20 Challenge encounter at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday afternoon.

It is a battle to maintain unbeaten status within the CSA T20 Challenge competition with Boland having won their opening four matches – sitting top of the log with 17 points – while the Dolphins have won three from three, sitting third on 14 points.

Boland’s opening four matches have all been at home, beating the Renault Potchefstroom North West Dragons, WSB Western Province, DP World Lions and last week, trouncing the Momentum Multiply Titans.

This is the first away match for the visitors, who have claimed wins over the Dafabet Warriors, Dragons and KZN Inland Tuskers.

Last week, Boland restricted the Titans to a modest 128-8 with Glenton Stuurman (2-16) and Imraan Manack (2-18) leading the charge.

In reply, a wonderful 32-ball 50 from captain Clyde Reeves-Fortuin guided the hosts to an emphatic seven-wicket victory, with Lehan Botha smashing three fours and two sixes to end unbeaten on 42 from 29 deliveries.

The men from Durban routed the Warriors last Friday, dismissing the men from Gqeberha for just 94 with Andile Simelane (3-13), Eathan Bosch (2-11), Anrich Nortje (2-21) and Aryan Gopalan (2-9) being on top form.

The Dolphins reached 100-3 with 34 balls to spare with openers Tshepang Dithole (39) and Khaya Zondo (25) adding 65 for the first wicket, essentially knocking the stuffing out of the Warriors' attack.

The home side have two of the top three wicket-takers in the competition to date, with Manack (8) and Keith Dudgeon (7) leading the way.

GOLDRUSH BOLAND: Gavin Kaplin, Grant Roelofsen, Clyde Reeves-Fortuin (capt, wk), Lehan Botha, Aviwe Mgijima, Ferisco Adams, Jhedli van Briesies, Keith Dudgeon, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Siyabonga Mahima.

HOLLYWOODBETS DOLPHINS: Dithole Tshepang, Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Bryce Parsons, Leus du Plooy, Eathan Bosch, Gomolemo Phiri (wk), Andile Simelane, Semal Pillay, Mokoena Ngobani, Aryan Gopalan, Anrich Nortje.