Linde strangles Dolphins

Left-arm spinner George Linde claimed 2/9 in four overs to help WSB Western Province restrict the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a moderate 141 for eight wickets in the CSA T20 Challenge Eliminator at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

Western Province won the toss and put the Dolphins in to bat on a slowish pitch on a sunny day in Durban. Linde began his demolition job immediately, trapping Bryce Parsons leg before with his fourth ball.

In his second over he bowled a rare maiden to Khaya Zondo who departed in his third over, lobbing to mid-on to give Linde the immaculate figures of 3-1-4-2. Zondo’s innings of five chewed up 15 deliveries.

With only five singles coming off his final over, Linde had most effectively set the tone for the visitors, narrowly losing out to Yusuf “The Heater” Abdullah (1/8) for the most economical spell in this format at the ground.

The Dolphins had Jason Smith to thank for any progress at all in the power-play, taking 15 off Tshepo Moreki to enable the home team to limp to 30 for two in six overs.

Skipper Marques Ackerman helped Smith add 60 for the third wicket before Mbulelo Dube ripped out his middle-stump. He departed for 17 in 21 balls. Smith struck 58 in 41 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, before he departed adjudged leg before to legspinner Josh Breed for 58 out of 96 runs.

Most of the remaining runs were scored by Tshepang Dithole, who struck five fours in his 27-ball 39. Nobody else reached double figures as the Dolphins seemed to fall well short of a challenging total.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins: Bryce Parsons, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Marques Ackerman (capt), Tshepang Dithole, Gomolelo Phiri (wk), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Tristan Luus, Aryan Gopalan, Anrich Nortje

WSB Western Province: Valentine Kitime, Jiveshen Pillay, Joshua van Heerden, Daniel Smith (capt, wk), George Linde, Abdallah Bayoumy, Kyle Simmonds, Josh Breed, Raeeq Daniels, Tshepo Moreki, Mbulelo Dube