The Supersport cricket match between the Dolphins and the Lions at Kingsmead on Sunday ended in a draw when both captains accepted that there was no chance of a result at the start of the last hour’s play.
Beginning the day with their score on 239 for three wickets after 86 overs, the Dolphins batted cautiously, adding 32 runs without loss in the 14 overs remaining to earn bonus points.
Dale Benkenstein was leg before wicket (lbw) to Andrew Hall shortly afterwards. Russell Symcox, promoted in the order, fell 10 runs later to an excellent catch by Justin Ontong at backward point off the bowling of Charl Langeveldt.
Lance Klusener joined Hashim Amla in a 91-run (190 balls) partnership for the sixth wicket before Amla fell lbw to Hall for 72. Amla hit eight fours in his innings and faced 206 balls.
Klusener reached his seventh first-class century with a smashing cover drive off Garnett Kruger. He struck 15 fours while facing 189 balls (58 scoring strokes).
The match ended when he was just seven runs short of 5 000 first-class runs. Together with Duncan Brown (27 not out), he added 98 runs in an unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket.
The match was marked by accurate bowling by both teams with cautious batting on a pitch that probably could have lasted for a timeless test. Together with the loss of 47 overs due to bad light and rain, the only result possible was a draw.
The man of the match was Doug Watson. — Sapa