Eagle post impressive total
Source -
Goodyear Eagles began the defence of their Standard Bank Pro-20 title in impressive style with a challenging total of 171-7 against the Dolphins.
Free State's Goodyear Eagles began the defence of their Standard Bank Pro-20 title in impressive style with a challenging total of 171-7 in the opening game of the 2005 competition against the Dolphins at GoodYear Park in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
Visiting skipper Hashim Amla chose to bowl first after winning the toss and a cunning plan to use slow bowlers, even part-timers, was bravely employed with mixed success.
Openers Morne van Wyk (35 from 24 deliveries) and Jonathan Beukes (36 off 34 balls) laid a fine platform for the home side but the immediate loss of Loots Bosman for a three-ball duck meant an inevitable loss of impetus..
Davey Jacobs repaired the damage with a combination of subtle nudges and bludgeoning drives in a top score of 44 from 32 deliveries while Benji Hector, Craig Thyssen and Ryan McClaren all chipped in with potentially vital boundaries towards the death when the slog overs were at their most frantic..
If the match is decided by half a dozen runs or less, as are over this distance, then the otherwise immaculate Lance Klusener will rue the penultimate delivery of his final over to Thyssen. .
A no-ball counts as two runs in this year's competition and the batsmen is permitted a free hit (and can't be out) off the next delivery. Klusener's misdemenous, and the subsequent six that followed, could be the difference between the teams..
Otherwise Ahmed Amla (2-30) displayed an unexpected ability to frustrate batsmen with his rarely used off-spin while Imraan Khan claimed 2-15 with his slightly more recognisable spinners.
Shaun Pollock is playing for the Dolphins and is expected to bat at number three.
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