East London - The Warriors outplayed the Dolphins by 90 runs at Buffalo Park on Wednesday in a domestic one-day Cup match.
Set a massive 357 to win, the Dolphins were always behind the required run-rate and with rain clouds in the vicinity of the ground, a close eye was kept on the Duckworth-Lewis chart but fortunately this was not needed.
Daryn Smit was the backbone of the Dolphins innings. He was not afraid to use the reverse sweep against the spinners and he went to a well-played half-century off 83 balls with three fours.
Smit had a life on 72 when Arno Jacobs put him down at long off, but he continued his good form of late and went to his maiden limited-overs century, scored off 133 balls with five boundaries and a six. He eventually finished with 108 before going out in the last over.
The Dolphins had two misfortunes during their innings. Ahmed Amla, on 43 and the total 100 for two wickets, tore a hamstring while going for a quick single, and had to be carried off the field.
After David Miller was dismissed for two, Mathew Hulett was run out when backing up too far and at 120 for four in the 28th over, the visitors were in deep trouble.
With 10 overs to go, 155 runs were needed and Robbie Frylinck and Smit hammered out a 57-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Frylinck was dropped by Makhaya Ntini at long-off from a skier, but perished the next ball, caught on the deep point boundary for 35.
With five overs to go and 114 runs short of the target, it was a sure thing for the Warriors.
Earlier the Warriors scored 356 for five wickets in their innings - the second-highest score ever in South African domestic limited-overs matches - and they made the Dolphins chase leather throughout an entertaining period of play.
Warriors opener Jon Jon Smuts batted superbly to score 132 - his third century and highest in limited-overs games.
Sent in to bat by the Dolphins who won the toss, Smuts and partner Jacobs were on the attack from the first ball. Spinner Keshav Maharaj was hit for nine in his first over and Friedel de Wet went for 22 in his first spell of two overs.
The batsmen matched each other run for run, both always looking for runs and not appearing to be in any trouble at all on an easy-paced pitch with a fast outfield.
Jacobs was the first to his 50, scored off 47 balls with seven fours, and Smuts followed him to his individual half-century one ball later, having smacked eight fours off 63 balls.
Jacobs then accelerated but at 74 he was caught by Frylinck on the long-on boundary when going for a big hit at 155 for one wicket.
Skipper Colin Ingram continued where Jacobs left off, and he and Smuts added 123 in double-quick time. Ingram was in swashbuckling form, and anything short or off-line was severely punished. He hit six fours and four huge sixes in a rampant 90, scored off only 73 balls.
Smuts went to his century off 116 balls with nine fours and a six and after reaching the milestone he accelerated and raced to 132 before he was caught on the long on boundary. He hit 12 fours and three sixes in a stay of 128 balls.
No Dolphins bowler was spared in the onslaught and altogether eight bowlers were used. - Sapa