The Dolphins let slip their last chance to taste victory at the CLT20, losing to KKR by 36 runs in their Group A clash in Hydrabad.

After another poor bowling display, the pressure was firmly on the Dolphins batsmen. They needed to chase down 188 to claim their first win in the competition. The task went from difficult to nearly impossible when Cameron Delport and Cody Chetty were already back in the hut within two overs.

Morne van Wyk and Vaughn van Jaarsveld consolidated, but when they were dismissed in quick succession for 34 and 19, respectively, the writing was on the wall. The 18-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo then showed a glimpse of what he is capable of, with an 18-ball 37, before trying one big hit too many and falling to Sunil Narine.

Unfortunately, the men from Durban were never in the contest. Their innings ended on 151-8, condemning them to a 36-run defeat. It also means that the Dolphins will return to South Africa without a single win in their debut at the tournament.

KKR Innings:

Kyle Abbott bowled with real pace and found a bit of movement through the air. Robbie Frylinck was the man who made the early breakthrough, though, as he uprooted Gautam Gambhir’s stumps. That brought Jacques Kallis to the crease, but he didn’t last long, as Craig Alexander clean bowled the legend for just 6.

Manish Pandey joined Robin Uthappa in the middle and helped their side reach 39-2 at the end of the powerplay. The two batsmen then grabbed the innings by the scruff of the neck during the middle overs, punishing the Dolphins’ bits and pieces bowlers.

They registers a massive 153-run partnership and both brought up their half-centuries in the total of 187-2. Uthappa and Pandey finished on 85 and 76, respectively.

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