Big week coming for play-off hunting Dolphins

The Hollywoodbets Dolphins have a big week of CSA T20 Challenge action ahead of them as they look to secure a spot in the competition play-offs.

They have two big matches coming up this weekend on Friday and Sunday with the first being a trip to SuperSport Park to take on the Momentum Multiply Titans.

Their final match of the competition is a home clash with the DP World Lions on Sunday which will hopefully be a match to determine where they finish on the log.

The Dolphins started the tournament with three consecutive wins and two bonus point wins, however two losses on the road last week set them back slightly in their pursuit of a top four finish.

Friday was nail-biter that went to two super overs as the table-toppers Boland edged the Dolphins in a thriller. It was the first time in Cricket South Africa history that a match was decided after two Super Overs.

Sunday's loss to Western Province was a tough one to take for Dolphins coach Quinton Friend.

"We haven't played our best cricket down here and unfortunately we were poor against Western Province on Sunday," Friend said. "We didn't bat with the right intent and we are still looking for a player or two to put their hand up with the bat in the top order.

"138 was about 20 runs short at Newlands minimum but it is what it is. We are still on 14 log points, and we are still very positive with two big games coming up."

The break-out star for the Dolphins has been Gomolemo Phiri who once again provided the fireworks with a second half century of the competition on Friday against Boland. The middle-order batter has been a revelation for Friend and his team.

"Again, Phiri's innings was outstanding and this is a youngster that is putting up his hand in our squad, and he's been a huge stand-out for us so far in the competition."

Phiri has scored 132 runs so far in the competition at a strike rate of 145 runs per 100 balls with two half centuries.

Looking ahead to the final week of the tournament's round robin phase, Friend believes his team will bounce back from the weekend's results with an eye on another play-off.

"The guys will have a few days off and then we'll get back into preparation for Friday and Sunday.

"The team knows exactly what is at stake with these two matches left and we'll fine tune a couple of things and work out where we need to be better as a team.

"We're in a good frame of mind and I've got to make sure I can get the best out of each individual in the squad," Friend added.

Tickets for Sunday's match at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium are available at ticketpros.co.za or at the stadium ticket office.