Seam bowler Robert Frylinck bagged two wickets in the final over as the Dolphins held on for a three-run victory over the Impi in their T20 Challenge clash in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
Frylinck removed Ryan Canning and Charl Pietersen to keep the Impi under pressure at the death, handing the Dolphins their first win of the competition while the new franchise suffered their second straight defeat.
Impi opener Khayezile Zondo smashed 54 runs from 47 deliveries for his second T20 half-century, combining in a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket with captain Paul Collingwood as they laid a solid foundation in their 152-run chase.
The skipper made 42 runs off 36 deliveries, and while he was dismissed by Frylinck in the 18th over, the Impi would have been confident of picking up their maiden victory, needing 18 runs from 14 balls with six wickets in hand.
Kyle Abbott, however, was miserly in the penultimate over before Frylinck pocketed two scalps from the last six balls, restricting the visitors to 148/7 to secure the win.
Frylinck, who returned career best figures of 4/28, was named Bowler of the Match, while Zondo received the batsman’s award.
Earlier, the Dolphins were anchored by skipper Imraan Khan and Vaughn van Jaarsveld after they won the toss and chose to bat.
The pair shared 59 runs for the fourth wicket before part-time bowler Richard Cameron had Khan trapped leg before for 34 runs in the 14th over.
Van Jaarsveld, meanwhile, contributed 43 runs from 39 balls to carry the middle order, though he was removed by Collingwood with 23 balls left in the innings.
Seamer Pumelela Matshikwe, who removed the Dolphins openers to restrict the hosts early on, returned 3/18 to lead the Impi bowling attack as the coastal side reached 151/6. – Sapa