A woeful batting display from the Dolphins left them in heaps of trouble at the halfway stage of their four-day SuperSport Series match against the Cobras in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
The team from Durban, who are yet to win a game in this season’s competition, reached stumps on 146/7 in reply to the visitors’ 432 all out earlier in the day.
Debutant Siya Simetu picked up two wickets for the log-leading Cobras, while the Dolphins did not help themselves with two run outs.
They had started the day nicely by fighting back early on when they removed overnight duo Richard Levi (19) and Justin Kemp (24) with just 11 balls gone.
Dane Vilas, the hero for the Capetonians in the last game, was out for three before Johann Louw (46) and Simetu (41) shared in a 52-run partnership.
Twenty-year-old Simetu then added 44 for the final wicket with Charl Willoughby (20 not out), helping their team to end the innings in a dominant position.
Robbie Frylinck ended as the pick of the bowlers for the Dolphins, claiming 4/170 in a marathon 56 overs, mainly of spin rather than his usual medium pace.
In reply, the hosts lost their first six wickets for 97 runs, with Vaughn van Jaarsveld top-scoring with 27 at that stage.
It was then left to Cody Chetty (35 not out) and Frylinck (20) to add some respectability to their total as they shared 49 together for the seventh wicket.
However, Frylinck fell with the last ball of the day leaving the Dolphins with a lot to do to save the game. – Sapa