Knights hold Dolphins for a sensational tie

The One-Day cricket was at its best in the ongoing domestic tournament in South Africa when Dolphins faced the bottom-placed Knights. The clash was the best between the two teams holding the extreme ends in the points table. But it turned out to be a nerve-wracking thriller courtesy the manic final over bowled by Duanne Olivier. The bowler was released from the Test squad after he failed to make it to the playing XI in the ongoing series against India. However, he made the difference for his team right away with the ball in hand.

When Olivier came on to bowl the final over, Dolphins needed 14 runs to win the match. Robert Frylinck smashed two sixes off the second and third delivery to end the excitement among the spectators as only two runs were needed off three balls. The bowler hit back with a dot ball but ruined with a wide delivery which eventually tied the scores with two deliveries to go.

The top-notch drama was yet to follow as Frylinck was out caught off the penultimate delivery as Dolphins now needed a run off the final ball. The other set batsman Prenelan Subrayen was adjudged out controversially for obstructing the field on the last delivery which led to both the teams scoring the same number of runs. Knights and Dolphins both scored exact 233 runs for the loss of nine wickets as they shared the points. The former side, however, played their second tied game of the season.

What happened earlier?

Earlier in the day, Knights from Bloemfontein won the toss and opted to bat first as their openers provided them with a good start. But the middle order struggled to get going with only Rudi Second and Patrick Kruger going past the 50-run mark. They eventually posted 233 runs in their stipulated 50 overs as Andile Phehlukwayo scalped three wickets conceding only 49 runs.

In response, the table-toppers were reeling at 59/4 before Dane Vilas and Senuran Muthusamy stitched a partnership of 81 runs even as the lower order took them close to the target. In the end, the thriller ended in a tie as no team deserved to lose with cricket emerging the winner.

Brief Scores

Knights 233/9 after 50 overs (R Second 66, P Kruger 59; A Phehlukwayo 3/49)

Dolphins 233/9 after 50 overs (S Muthusamy 68; D Olivier 3/52)

Result: Match tied