Both the Hollywoodbets KZN Inland and Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal teams tasted success on the opening day of the 2018 Africa T20 Cup while Coastal did their play-off hopes no favours when they lost to Easterns in their second game of the day.

In their first game, the KZN Coastal team were made to fight for their 20 run victory over tournament late-comers Uganda in their first game of the day.

The men from East Africa won the toss and asked the Coastal team to bat first at the Pietermaritzburg Oval and the Durban side were lethargic out of the blocks.

Dolphins Premier League, presented by Aucor, star Blayde Capell fell first for 18 from 20 balls.

His captain Khalipa Cele was the next to go for 16 from 23 balls and the KZN side were 70/2 in the 12th over.

Marques Ackerman then grabbed the initiative by plundering an effortless 73 from 44 deliveries, as he and Senuran Muthusamy contributed 55 from just over five overs.

Muthusamy’s 25 came from just 15 balls as KZN continued to up the ante towards the end of the innings.

Proteas all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo showed his finishing skills with 24 off 13 balls which included two sixes.

Coastal concluded their innings on 163/5 from their 20 overs.

Uganda started brightly in their chase as Keith Dudgeon’s first over went for 11.

The Ugandan’s were ahead of the required rate as they motored to 58/1 after six overs.

It was from there that the KZN men managed to claw back the ascendency as at the 10 over mark Uganda were restricted to 87/3 as Thula Ngcobo bagged two of the three scalps.

The strangle continued and with five overs to go, KZN were in the pound seat with Uganda 112/5, still requiring 52 runs to win.

From there Uganda lost wickets regularly and had closed their innings on 143/8 off 20 overs.

Muthusamy bagged 2/18 in his four overs , Thula Ngcobo finished with 2/23 and Phehlukwayo ended with 1/9 in two overs, while there were three run-outs to compound Uganda’s woes.

In their second game of the day, Coastal came up against a strong Easterns side.

Easterns batted first and posted an imposing 183/8 in their 20 overs.

Phehlukwayo, Eathan Bosch and Ngcobo all picked up two wickets in their efforts while Smangaliso Nhlebela and Dudgeon picked up one apiece.

In their reply, Coastal found themselves 38/2 with Cele and Ackerman back in the hut.

Unfortunately for Coastal, no one was able to support Capell at the top of the order with 40 before Bosch scored a fighting 50 from 26 balls.

Coastal couldn’t manage to get close and finished on 154/7 in their 20 overs to dent their chances of a semi-final spot, losing by 29 runs.

In their first game of the tournament, Inland trounced Uganda by 133 runs on Friday afternoon.

The hosts batted first and showed the same form that saw them win the competition last year as they accumulated 227/2 in 20 overs.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins batsman Cody Chetty top scored with 94 from 56 balls while the ever-green Kyle Nipper made a more than handy 77 from 45 balls.

Gareth Dukes blasted 24 off just six balls to take their side over 200.

The Ugandans battled to get going and lost wickets regularly and were bundled out for just 94 in the 19th over.

The wickets were shared among the bowlers with Kerwin Mungroo, Dukes, Nduduzo Mfoza and Sohail Mahmoud picking up two wickets each.

Youngster Mondli Khumalo and captain Sarel Erwee both bagged one wicket to hand their side a convincing 133 run victory.

Saturday’s action sees Inland take on Easterns in their first game and then Western Province in the afternoon.

Coastal play one game on Saturday against Western Province in the morning.

Hollywoodbets KZN Inland Africa T20 Cup Fixtures:
Saturday 15 September: Hollywoodbets KZN Inland vs Easterns (PMB Oval) – 09:30
Saturday 15 September: Hollywoodbets KZN Inland vs Western Province (PMB Oval) – 13:30
Sunday 16 September: Hollywoodbets KZN Inland vs Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal (PMB Oval) 13:00

Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Africa T20 Cup Fixtures:
Saturday 15 September : Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal vs Western Province (Varsity Oval) – 09:30
Sunday 16 September: Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal vs Hollywoodbets KZN Inland (PMB Oval) – 13:00

Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Squad:
Marques Ackerman, Zakariya Paruk, Michael Erlank, Thula Ngcobo, Senuran Muthusamy, Keith Dudgeon, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Andile Phehlukwayo, Calvin Savage, Eathan Bosch, Matthew Montgomery, Blayde Capell, Khalipa Cele (Captain) Coach: Roger Telemachus, Ass. Coach: Thokozani Zulu, Manager: Kenneth Mafunga

Hollywoodbets KZN Inland Squad:
Mondli Khumalo, Grant Roelofsen, Kyle Nipper, Athi Maposa, Gareth Dukes, Cody Chetty, Lwandiswa Zuma, Nduduzo Mfoza, Sohail Mahmoud, Kerwin Mungroo, Sthabiso Zungu, Ruhan Pretorius, Sarel Erwee (Captain), Coach: Shane Burger, Ass. Coach: Yusuf Abdullah, Trainer: Jason Greeff

More information can be found at www.dolphinscricket.co.za

PHOTO: Anesh Debiky/Gameplan Media