The Eagles and the Dolphins played to a dreary draw at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein on Sunday after the Dolphins’ first innings came to a close one hour after the lunch break on the last day.
A marathon innings of nearly 11 hours rewarded young Dolphins batsman Ashraf Mall with not only his maiden first-class 100 but also his first double 100 as he ended on an undefeated 214 in 647 minutes off 468 balls, off which he struck 28 boundaries.
Mall and number 11 Mfuneko Ngam held the Eagles up for nearly two hours in which only 42 runs were scored, taking the Dolphins to 565 all out. Lance Klusener had in the morning session tried to up the tempo as he struck seven boundaries in scoring 40 off 48 balls.
The tireless Cliff Deacon was in the end rewarded with four for 115 in 35 overs, while Jacob Malao picked up three for 147 in a lengthy spell of 46,2 overs.
The Eagles quickly whittled off the deficit of 24 with the loss of Davey Jacobs caught behind off Ngam for 12 and James Henderson giving Klusener a return catch for nine.
With the Eagles on 82 for four after two more wickets fell, and the game in its final hour, the captains decided to call the match off as a draw. — Sapa