Okuhle Cele of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins celebrates wicket during the 2024/25 CSA T20 match as the side seek their first season-win. | BackpagePix
The Dolphins have lost all four of their encounters so far in the tournament, and they will look to feed off their home crowd as they attempt to break their duck. The KZN-based side have been part of the last two finals, falling short against the Titans (2022/23 season) and Lions (2023/24 season).
There hasn’t been much to celebrate so far this season for Quinton Friend and his troops, and they have been on the receiving end of a couple of heavy defeats. Andile Simelane, still in the high of receiving his maiden call-up to the Proteas, has been one of the standout performers after having picked up eight wickets with best figures of 4-19 in the three matches he has played.
Meanwhile, Province is also not having the best of starts and in their last outing they could not defend a target of 149; they set the Warriors in their home encounter on Wednesday.
This was their second loss at home, and despite having beaten the star-studded Titans team away from home, the Dolphins can take confidence as they will face an uncertain Province side that will also be in search of a positive result and winning momentum.
Titans vs. Knights
The Titans bounced back in fine style after suffering their first defeat of the competition against Province. Their impressive start to the season has immediately handed them a favourites’ tag, and they have lived up to expectations barring their hiccup against Province.
The Pretoria-based side are the most successful side in this competition, having won it seven times, and while they have been just as impressive alongside the North West Dragons, the return of Heinrich Klaasen has enhanced their danger.
The destructive right-hander didn’t take long to get going after his break away from the game, and he has immediately made his presence felt with his entertaining knock 71 off 32 balls in a dominant 94-run victory against Boland on Wednesday.
They will however come up against an unpredictable Knights side that has shown a little bit of everything since their return to the first division. Their three defeats in the competition so far don’t tell the full story, as two of those were narrow losses against the Dragons (lost by three runs) and Boland (super over loss).
The Knights’ sole victory came away from home against the Warriors, and they will travel to Pretoria being fully capable of an upset with their side bolstered by specialist T20 campaigner Rilee Rossouw.