Pillay's ton guides Dolphins to unlikely win over Warriors in high scoring affair

A maiden first-class hundred from Semal Pillay helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to an unlikely two wicket win over the Dafabet Warriors in the 4-Day Series at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Thursday.

The home side were behind the game for the majority of the content but showed true grit as Pillay's fourth innings hundred helped guide his team to 370/8.

The Warriors laid the early foundations with a substantial first-innings total of 380 after several key contributions through the middle order.

Jordan Hermann anchored the innings with a patient 94 from 157 deliveries, providing stability at the top, before JP King added momentum with a fluent 86. The defining contribution, however, came from Senuran Muthusamy, whose authoritative 113 ensured the visitors turned promising starts into a commanding total.

Support came in smaller but useful partnerships, allowing the Warriors to stretch beyond the 350 mark. For the Dolphins, Tristan Luus was the standout with a five-wicket haul, while Bryce Parsons chipped in with two scalps to prevent the total from growing even larger.

The Dolphins lost both Okuhle Cele and Parsons to injuries which meant Gomolemo Phiri and Tim Saulez were handed first-class debuts during the match.

In reply, the Dolphins posted 253, a total built around several starts but lacking a single dominant innings to match the Warriors’ effort.

Hanu Viljoen top-scored with 69, while Slade van Staden’s composed 52 added substance. Tshepang Dithole's brisk 37 helped maintain momentum early on and late contributions from the lower order pushed the score beyond 250. Nevertheless, regular wickets prevented the hosts from erasing the deficit, leaving them trailing by 127 runs after the first exchanges.

The Warriors approached their second innings with positive intent, eventually declaring on 237/5 in 54.2 overs to set up a result.

Matthew Breetzke led the charge with a confident unbeaten 91, striking freely to push the scoring rate, while King followed his first-innings effort with another aggressive display, compiling 84 from just over a hundred balls. Their partnership shifted the match from consolidation into attack, enabling the Warriors to set a challenging target of 365.

The fourth innings provided the contest’s decisive chapter as the Dolphins successfully hunted down the unlikely target, getting home after a tense and fluctuating pursuit.

Pillay produced the innings of the chase with a superb 111, combining patience with controlled aggression to anchor the effort. The 18-year old proved to be a crucial cog in the Dolphins chase. Khaya Zondo added an invaluable 71, while Van Staden’s 61 ensured the Dolphins built steady platforms despite intermittent setbacks.

Late drama arrived as wickets fell with the finish line in sight but Ethan Bosch’s vital 53 kept the momentum alive and Andile Simelane’s unbeaten contribution guided the hosts home with two wickets in hand.

SCORE SUMMARY

First Innings

Dafabet Warriors 380 all out (S Muthusamy 113 J Hermann 94 JP King 86 T Luus 5/77)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins 253 all out (H Viljoen 69 S van Staden 52 A Simelane 38 G Peters 5/67)

Second Innings

Dafabet Warriors 237/5d (M Breetzke 91* JP King 84 E Bosch 4/25)

Hollywoodbets Dolphins 370/8 (S Pillay 111 K Zondo 71 S van Staden 61 E Bosch 53)

Dolphins win by two wickets