The Lions made short work of the Dolphins on the final day of their Supersport Series match at the Wanderers on Sunday, clinching a victory over the previously unbeaten visitors by an innings and 130 runs.
The Lions belied their lowly place on the table at the start of their match on Thursday (second from bottom) as they took control from the start, when Willie Motaung and Adam Bacher compiled the season’s highest first-wicket partnership of 178.
The Lions then turned up the heat, scoring an intimidating 499/9 declared, and then bowling the Dolphins out for a lowly 182.
The 317 run deficit was always going to be a daunting total to chase down, and so it proved as the Lions finally put the boot in, bowling out the hapless visitors for 187. Their plight was exacerbated when Zahir Abrahim was unable to take the field after being hit in the face 10 minutes before the close of play on the penultimate day.
Ashraf Mall (56), who had held up the Lions push for victory, struck his tenth first-class half-century just before the death. He was also the last man out, edging a lifting Garnett Kruger delivery to the keeper Matthew Harris.
Test discard, man of the match Andrew Hall, who took 5/31 in the Dolphins first-innings, finished with a match analysis of 29-11-60-7. – Sapa