THE misery continued for the Highveld Lions, while the Dolphins, led by young David Miller, produced a sensational batting performance to give themselves a timely boost after the early rounds of the MTN40 cricket competition were completed at the weekend.
THE misery continued for the Highveld Lions, while the Dolphins, led by young David Miller, produced a sensational batting performance to give themselves a timely boost after the early rounds of the MTN40 cricket competition were completed at the weekend.
The revamped tournament began with much fanfare just under three weeks ago as the game's officials sought to introduce a new spark to the longer version of the game.
Whether the MTN40 will manage to loosen the almost complete grip Twenty20 cricket has on the fans remains to be seen, but the early evidence is that the shortest form of the game has had a big impact on all versions of limited-overs cricket.
Admittedly, the MTN40 playing conditions are loaded in favour of the batsmen, but gone are the days when scores in the region of 180 to 225 would be enough to win a game.
Nowadays you can get up to 250 and still not feel safe, as the Diamond Eagles discovered on Sunday in Durban, to find themselves languishing low on the log.
Morné van Wyk's batting form has been imperious for the Diamond Eagles, but even his 110 off 107 balls in a total of 259 for seven could not prevent defeat.
The visitors seemed to have done all the hard work when they reduced the Dolphins to 123 for four and then 147 for five.
But that's when Miller came to the party and his rousing 70 not out off 44 deliveries was just the injection the Dolphins innings needed.
Daryn Smit (53 not out) played a quieter, supporting role at the other end as they added 113 for the fifth wicket to take their side home with 2,5 overs remaining.
That gave the Dolphins their second win in the three matches they've played since last Wednesday, sandwiching the win over the Highveld Lions and Sunday's victory with a loss to the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Friday.
The Lions gave a woeful batting display - they were all out for 129 - in succumbing meekly to the Titans on Friday in Johannesburg and from now on it will be uphill all the way for them.
The nine-wicket victory moved the Titans to top spot on the log on 11 points, with the Cobras second, on 10, and the Warriors third, on nine points. The domestic focus will switch back to the SuperSport Series for the next five weeks. - Sapa
Miller the hero for Dolphins
THE misery continued for the Highveld Lions, while the Dolphins, led by young David Miller, produced a sensational batting performance to give themselves a timely boost after the early rounds of the MTN40 cricket competition were completed at the weekend.
THE misery continued for the Highveld Lions, while the Dolphins, led by young David Miller, produced a sensational batting performance to give themselves a timely boost after the early rounds of the MTN40 cricket competition were completed at the weekend.
The revamped tournament began with much fanfare just under three weeks ago as the game's officials sought to introduce a new spark to the longer version of the game.
Whether the MTN40 will manage to loosen the almost complete grip Twenty20 cricket has on the fans remains to be seen, but the early evidence is that the shortest form of the game has had a big impact on all versions of limited-overs cricket.
Admittedly, the MTN40 playing conditions are loaded in favour of the batsmen, but gone are the days when scores in the region of 180 to 225 would be enough to win a game.
Nowadays you can get up to 250 and still not feel safe, as the Diamond Eagles discovered on Sunday in Durban, to find themselves languishing low on the log.
Morné van Wyk's batting form has been imperious for the Diamond Eagles, but even his 110 off 107 balls in a total of 259 for seven could not prevent defeat.
The visitors seemed to have done all the hard work when they reduced the Dolphins to 123 for four and then 147 for five.
But that's when Miller came to the party and his rousing 70 not out off 44 deliveries was just the injection the Dolphins innings needed.
Daryn Smit (53 not out) played a quieter, supporting role at the other end as they added 113 for the fifth wicket to take their side home with 2,5 overs remaining.
That gave the Dolphins their second win in the three matches they've played since last Wednesday, sandwiching the win over the Highveld Lions and Sunday's victory with a loss to the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Friday.
The Lions gave a woeful batting display - they were all out for 129 - in succumbing meekly to the Titans on Friday in Johannesburg and from now on it will be uphill all the way for them.
The nine-wicket victory moved the Titans to top spot on the log on 11 points, with the Cobras second, on 10, and the Warriors third, on nine points. The domestic focus will switch back to the SuperSport Series for the next five weeks. - Sapa
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