Dolphins T20 Challenge Win By 4 Wicket Against WP Match Highlight. In a nail-biting 2024 CSA T20 Challenge clash, the Dolphins showcased their resilience with a 4-wicket victory over Western Province at Kingsmead, Durban. The match, held on October 13, 2024, kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats as the Dolphins successfully chased down a target of 168 with 6 balls to spare. Western Province put up a strong fight, but the Dolphins, led by a stunning performance from Marques Ackerman and some key contributions from their bowling unit, emerged victorious. Let’s dive into the highlights of this enthralling encounter.
Western Province Innings
Western Province, after being sent in to bat by the Dolphins, put up a competitive total of 167/6 in their 20 overs. The star of the innings was Jonathan Bird, who played a composed knock of 53 runs off 38 balls, striking 2 boundaries and clearing the ropes 3 times. His innings provided the backbone for Western Province, but he couldn’t find substantial support from the rest of the top order. Edward Moore (19 off 12) and Kyle Simmonds (4 off 3) fell early, with Simelane making early inroads for the Dolphins.
Simelane was the pick of the bowlers for the Dolphins, claiming impressive figures of 4-0-44-3. He was responsible for the key wickets of Bird, Moore, and Simmonds, breaking the back of Western Province’s batting lineup. Despite the early setbacks, middle-order contributions from Valentine Kitime (26 off 21) and Mihlali Mpongwana, who remained unbeaten on 30 off 20 balls, ensured that Western Province reached a respectable total.
In the later stages of the innings, George Linde chipped in with a quick 17 off 12 balls, but was dismissed by Okuhle Cele, who finished with 2 wickets for 29 runs in his 4 overs. Western Province closed their innings at 167/6, with a flurry of runs coming towards the end, but they would have hoped for a few more from their middle order.
Fall of Wickets
- Edward Moore – 37/1 (4.1 overs)
- Kyle Simmonds – 41/2 (4.4 overs)
- Valentine Kitime – 104/3 (11.4 overs)
- Jonathan Bird – 108/4 (12.6 overs)
- George Linde – 149/5 (16.1 overs)
- Daniel Smith – 151/6 (16.5 overs)
Western Province Batting Summary
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Bird | 53 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 139.47 |
| Edward Moore | 19 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 158.33 |
| Kyle Simmonds | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Valentine Kitime | 26 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 123.81 |
| Mihlali Mpongwana | 30* | 20 | 2 | 2 | 150.00 |
| George Linde | 17 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 141.67 |
| Daniel Smith | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Beuran Hendricks | 8* | 9 | 1 | 0 | 88.88 |
Dolphins Chase
Chasing a target of 168, the Dolphins got off to a rocky start, losing opener Tshepang Dithole (5 off 4) in the first over to Kyle Simmonds. Things went from bad to worse when Slade van Staden was dismissed for just 7 runs by Mihlali Mpongwana, leaving the Dolphins struggling at 16/2.
However, it was Marques Ackerman who played a captain’s knock to steady the ship. His 74 runs off 47 balls, laced with 8 boundaries and 1 six, was the cornerstone of Dolphins’ chase. Ackerman’s aggressive stroke play, combined with his calm composure, kept the scoreboard ticking and put the pressure back on Western Province’s bowlers.
Ackerman was well-supported by Jason Smith, who contributed a valuable 39 off 25 balls, striking 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. The pair’s partnership took the Dolphins past the 100-run mark and set them up for a successful chase.
Western Province’s bowlers, particularly Mpongwana (3 wickets for 26 runs), tried to pull things back, dismissing Bradley Porteous and Hanu Viljoen in quick succession. However, Bryce Parsons (27* off 20) and Andile Simelane (4* off 1) held their nerve to take Dolphins over the line in the 19th over.
Fall of Wickets
- Tshepang Dithole – 7/1 (0.6 overs)
- Slade van Staden – 16/2 (2.1 overs)
- Jason Smith – 84/3 (9.1 overs)
- Marques Ackerman – 150/4 (16.2 overs)
- Bradley Porteous – 163/5 (18.1 overs)
- Hanu Viljoen – 165/6 (18.5 overs)
Dolphins Batting Summary
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tshepang Dithole | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Slade van Staden | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Marques Ackerman | 74 | 47 | 8 | 1 | 157.44 |
| Jason Smith | 39 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 156.00 |
| Bryce Parsons | 27* | 20 | 1 | 1 | 135.00 |
| Bradley Porteous | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Hanu Viljoen | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Andile Simelane | 4* | 1 | 1 | 0 | 400.00 |
Bowling Performances
On the bowling front, the Dolphins were led by a disciplined performance from Okuhle Cele and Andile Simelane. Cele’s accurate bowling yielded 2 crucial wickets, while Simelane’s 3-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting Western Province to a manageable total. Though Ottniel Baartman and Prenelan Subrayen went wicketless, their control in the middle overs prevented Western Province from accelerating.
Western Province Bowling Summary
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Simmonds | 4 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 5.25 |
| Beuran Hendricks | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 12.33 |
| Mihlali Mpongwana | 3 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 8.66 |
| Wesley Bedja | 4 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 11.50 |
| George Linde | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Jonathan Bird | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
Key Takeaways
- Marques Ackerman led the Dolphins’ charge with a well-constructed 74 off 47 balls, guiding his team to victory.
- Andile Simelane played a pivotal role in both innings, picking up 3 key wickets and contributing with the bat.
- Western Province’s Jonathan Bird top-scored for his side with 53 runs, but the lack of support from the middle order hampered their progress.
The Dolphins earned 4 crucial points with this victory, while Western Province was left to regroup after falling short in a competitive contest.
Conclusion
The Dolphins thrilling 4-wicket victory over Western Province in the CSA T20 Challenge 2024 highlighted their resilience and composure under pressure. With Marques Ackerman leading the charge and valuable contributions from Jason Smith and Bryce Parsons, the Dolphins successfully chased down a challenging target of 168 with 6 balls to spare.
