It’s the Nashua Dolphins’ momentum versus the Nashua Titans’ street smarts in the Standard Bank Pro20 final in Durban Today.
Supercricket reports that the Dolphins stared elimination from the playoff rounds in the face before reeling off five consecutive victories to turn their campaign around.
The Titans snuck into the semifinals in fourth place after winning just three of their league matches. But they rose to that occasion in fine style by defeating the previously unbeaten Nashua Cape Cobras by six runs.
As always in the shortest version of the game, offering a prediction on the outcome of Friday’s final makes as much sense as trusting in the integrity of the Zimbabwean election process. Suffice to say that this math will not be short on Kaboom.
Yusuf Abdullah has matured into a rasping threat with the ball for the Dolphins, but with Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn back in harness the Titans will hardly be short on firepower.
The peerless professionalism shown by Johann Louw and Pierre de Bruyn has helped the Dolphins avoid many a tight spot this season. Similarly, players like Albie Morkel and AB de Villiers should be able to smash the Titans out of just about any jam.
De Bruyn’s appearance in a Dolphins shirt represents an intriguing sub-plot to the central drama. He was a Titan until the beginning of the year, when a fallout with the Centurion-based franchise’s coaching and management staff prompted him to move to the coast.
“Everybody keeps asking me if I want revenge,” De Bruyn said. “The truth is that my mind is here in Durban – this is where my career is.”
De Bruyn has shown his versatility for the Dolphins by taking over Daryn Smit’s wicketkeeping gloves when the latter comes on to bowl his effective brand of leg-spin.
In fact, the KwaZulu-Natalians are probably the most innovative side in the competition. They will come up against a team that puts great store in bloodymindedness.
That’s a recipe for an epic battle, a fight fit for a final.
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Go Sh………Dolphins!!!!!!!!!!
And SS2 is showing the match live 😎
Okay so help me out here?
Are the Titans from Tswane? That will make this game so much more interesting.
And I see Ferrari are heading the timing tables for the Spanish GP. 😎
Titans are from Tswa…, Tswe… Pretoria.
Watch the name of Darryn Smit – this guy must throw the keepers gloves away and concentrate on his leg spin bowling – already a very good leggie who gets genuine turn and isnt afraid to give the ball air, even in this form of the game. A really good prospect.
So does he Bowl and keep in 20/20?
Who keeps when he bowls?
😯
Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, has been put on paid leave until his contract runs out on July 4.
In a brief statement, David Morgan, the ICC’s president-elect, said: “This … is the result of a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between the CEO and a number of board members, including the president, over a variety of issues that include Zimbabwe.
“David Richardson, the ICC general manager – cricket, will serve as interim CEO until Speed’s replacement, Haroon Lorgat, assumes the role at the ICC’s annual conference at the beginning of July.”
Rumours had been circulating for the last month that Speed had had a serious falling-out with Ray Mali, the president, following the ICC executive’s decision not to take any major action against Zimbabwe following an independent forensic audit carried out by KPMG, which the ICC has since refused to make available.
Following the ICC’s meeting in Dubai in March, at which the decision to overlook the audit was taken, Speed refused to attend the traditional post-meeting media conference, explaining privately to the executive that he was not prepared to defend in public a decision with which he fundamentally disagreed. It had been the recommendation of the audit committee that senior ZC officials should have been referred to the ethics committee.
In July last year, a confidential report by Speed and Faisal Hasnain, the ICC’s chief financial officer, was leaked, much to the ICC’s embarrassment and anger, in which Speed made a series of stinging attacks on Zimbabwe Cricket’s finances, concluding: “It is clear that the accounts of ZC have been deliberately falsified to mask various illegal transactions from the auditors and the government of Zimbabwe. The accounts were incorrect and at no stage did ZC draw the attention of the users of these accounts to the unusual transactions. It may not be possible to rely on the authenticity of its balance sheet.”
Mali, who is a staunch supporter of Zimbabwe and of its officials, has not yet commented publicly on the situation but it is a telling reflection on his inability to handle the media that it will be Morgan – renowned for his conciliatory manner – who fronts up at the press conference at Lord’s tomorrow.
Mali is understood to have been incensed by Speed’s conduct and gained support from a number of board members as he successfully moved to have Speed sidelined for the remainder of his tenure. Although Zimbabwe has emerged as the key reason for the falling-out, it is understood that Speed’s recent statement that the rebel Indian Cricket League had approached the ICC seeking official recognition had also been used as an excuse to get rid of him.
“We have removed him so what is left to say now,” said a senior official from the anti-Speed camp, who did not wish to be identified. “We were not happy with the way he handled the Zimbabwe situation, and his recent statements which implied that the ICL issue had not been raised officially within ICC. There were also many who were not happy with his confrontational style of functioning.”
Haroon Lorgat, South Africa’s former convenor of selectors, is lined up to succeed Speed as CEO, but said that it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the development as he is not involved with the ICC yet. “This is something I don’t want to get into right now,” Lorgat told Cricinfo.
Isn’t Lorgat the guy who was involved in some of his own contoversy a few months back in SA.
i can’t recall what the problem was.
KSA
When Smit come on to bowl Pierre de Bruyn takes over as keeper.
Sounds like the ICC are a bunch thugs who feel the need to get rid of a straight talker in case they get tainted by their association with him.
Geez this is a worrying report.
I think he was convenor of selectors and I think you are right about the controversy but cannot remember what it was.
Dolphins squad
I Khan, G Rowley, HM Amla, AM Amla, JC Kent, M van Vuuren, P de Bruyn, D Smit, J Louw, AC Thomas, YA Abdullah, S Mlongo, DA Miller
Bye all.
Titans squad
GH Bodi, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers, RE van der Merwe, JA Morkel, F Behardien, P Joubert, M Morkel, AM Phangiso, DW Steyn, NE Mbhalati, BL Reddy, HG Kuhn
Cheers Salmo.
Time for Dinner before the match.
brb
C’mon Dolphins!
LOL, I watched their semi-final win against the Eagles last Friday in Phuket of all places! Went on quite pretty late, which got the other half uber-grumpy….
Really enjoyed watching FIGJAM’s pal Grant Rowley smashed the Eagles around – his cameo of 48 reminded me of Lance Klusener in his prime. In 1 over he hit 2 sixes & 2 fours – consecutively & effortlessly!
If he can get going… & Johann Louw was superb – miserly at the start, but grabbed some pretty big wickets.
Our batting line-up worries me, you have to favour the Titans in that respect. The Dolphins bowlers have been their star performers, but the Titans do have trump cards in the Morkel bros & of course Steyn.
Eisssh… my heart says Dolphins BUT my head says Titans. Unfortunately.
score …
Titans batting
9/1 after 3 overs
watching survivor, KSA will be around later
Titans
29/1 after 7 overs
Titans
37/2 after 8 overs
titan going for an extra run – thought there had been an overthrow and went for a second run…. dolphins stump him 😀
AB & the ex-Dolphin Gulam Bodi at the crease.
Dolphins need to get one of these wickets soon.
Titans
62/2 after 11.2 overs
Would it be weird if I admitted supporting the Titans?
Not really weird just stupid. 😉
Yeah, it would be.
go dolphins! 🙂
Good over this so far
1
4
4
1
4
4
4
41 scored in three over. 😡
Titans putting almost every ball on the boundary now 🙁
Bodi OUT LBW
1st ball from v Vuuren. 😎
😯
MOEEEEEERSE six from AB dV
And OUT the next ball
AB seems more that just a little dissappointed with that catch.
Who is this Behardien chap?
Another Wicket for Van Vuuren. 😎
Behardien out for 2
120/5 17 Overs
Eish, Kent & Smit taking stick from the batsmen:
Kent – 1/33 off 3
Smit – 1/16 off 1
What the article above doesn’t mention is that pierre de Bruyn gave up his bowling career to keep wicket to Smith. Was handy medium pacer for the Titans in past.
Quinny
I can tell you WHERE he is but not who he is.
He is back on the bench.
Imran Khan tackes a CATCH
The 2 Morkels at the crease now
124/6
18 overs
Albie Morkel SIX over the dugout
ANOTHER SIX 😯
Last over was the best of the innings. 22 runs.
146/6
19 overs
eish
That’s a VERY good score…
good over so far.
three runs off 4 balls
Don’t think I can take another loss in a final, esp. not to a Tswane-based team…
Amla Fumbles a second field in 3 balls.
153/6
20 overs
🙂
maybe we will win it with 80seconds to spare. 😉
Whatcha think then?
Any chance then?
We have battled to get decent scores throughout the season so it is going to be difficult, but can be done.
Lot’s of batting in our line-up, right down to the last man. BUT they will need to get off to a FLYER!
No hanna-hanna-ing around from brothers Amla…
yeah none of that stuff.
that last comment of mine might as well have been about the Sharks as well. 😉
Will the Durban dew help us or work against us?
1st Over
7/0
7/1 2nd over
11/2 2nd over
um, against! (to answer your question)
Bulls and Cheetahs are through to the Vodacom Cup semi
So should the impossible happen tomorrow, the Wildebeest will play at Loftus in the semi, then meet either Free State or Griquas in the final. Walk in the park
16/2
3 overs
man i forgot those were on tonight
SIX for Rowley
Some needle here. 😎
500k prize money.
I see the games were not shown on SS.
23/2 after 4 overs
Edged to AB Div
he puts it down and it looks like he has gone down as well.
Has stayed down.
AB receiving attention to his lower back.
Glad they have switched the stump mic off. AB using the P(*^ word quite a bit.
Next ball 4
next ball 6
35/2 after 5 Overs
Ahmed Amla caught behind.
36/3
Titans were 16/1 at same stage
Getting the old comment count up? 🙂
is there more than one amla?
Rowley & Kent are key to the cause. Run-rate is ok.
Dolphins
44/4
need 110 to win from 80 balls
is there more than one amla?
Comment 71 of 72, posted at 25.04.08 20:15:32 by robdylan (Sharks Forever!)
🙄
such a prawn eater!!!
hi!!!
dolphins
61/5
need 93 to win from 62 balls
hi ice
66/5
88 to win from 58 balls
Prawn eater? What this does mean, Q?
Hi Kette!1 You guys had “saturday” today? 😉
Hey Robo!
I am HAPPY…see I am back in the Top ten!!! 😀
no its ‘sunday’ night here now, back to work tomorrow 😕
71/5
83 to win from 53 balls
Damn – cannot wait for tomorrow…husband getting back from France and leaving for Stilbaai!! I guess I am gonna do a LOT of driving… 😕
woohoo 10 points off 2 balls
😳 points = runs 😆
84/5
70 to win from 48 balls
Ice
enjoy the time away…not the driving though
at this stage after having last driven a car ….in december, I don’t think I’d mind a whole lot of driving 😎
93/5
need 61 to win from 43 balls, we still have a hope 😎
😯 Really??
Yeah – thanks – Hope I can get a day or so on the golf course – weather seems coolish…22 predicted for most of the time…suppose not much of a tan will be obtained..I am a Summer girl…freze my backside off quicklyQQ
All seemed to laugh at me…in winter in Durbs I hat my electric blanket on 3! 
106-5
48 to win from 36 balls
ice
Its do-able!!! 😀
107-5
Eish 47 from 33
Ok this is happening too quickly…
109/5
45 to win from 30 balls
4th umpire deciding whether the ball smit hit was a no ball or not …
If the ball is good, bodi caught ON the boundry….smit is out
109/6
45 to win from 28 balls
If the ball is not good ……..
4th umpire says the ball was ok, smit is out 😥
112/6
42 to win from 24 balls
new over starts well…..
116/6
38 to win from 23 balls
C’mon DOLPHINS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come Dolphins…!!!!! 😐 😐
U 2 with your laptops on the same couch again??? 😆
120/6
34 from 20
same room different couches
We can do this.
FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 Yes!!! 😀
Shit! 👿
Albie Morkel great caught and bowled.
Fortunately it was Louw caught and not De bruyn
Bowled De bruyn.
127/8
Kette…one promise…the WHOLE outfit 2moro Pleeeeezeee!!! 😉
Oi KSA…was that a jinx?? 😯
Alfonso thomas in and hits the first ball for FOUR……….luckily.
Might have been a jinx 😳
21 needed from 11 balls
C’MON!!!!!!!!!!!!
SILLY SILLY MOVE
Comment 118
promise ice and i’ll even have the white top along to change into incase they’re wearing their alternate jersey like last week
KSA will just have to promise to text me
yusuf Abdullah batting for the first time in Pro 20
#
KSA will just have to promise to text me
Comment 123 of 123, posted at 25.04.08 21:10:57 by KSA Sharkette
❓ ❓ He’s gonna miss out?? 😯 😉
19 needed off the last over. 🙁
135 is the Dolphins new high score for the season
I swear, at NO STAGE tomorrow will I post a ‘we’ve got this won’ type comment
NOOOOOO…. 😡 😡
LBW first ball.
GAME OVER.
Titans win by 18 runs
Well Done Titans
Comment 127…thanx… 😕
yeah Rob………….you say that now. 😉
hopefully this week will have a better outcome than last week though, after a very long day of lectures I DID NOT need the result we got 😥
Ice.
I’ll be at home watching, while everybody else in this place is at work. 😉
I’m sure we’ll be in black tomorrow
After such an exciting 1st half…could not believe how things went haywire… 😐
i am gonna say…..I am so Confident…its a Sharks S14 champ year… 😛
Go Titans!
You babysitting at least KSA??? ❓ …Said to D – after these 4 days i need a week in a SPA….it’s (and dont tell him I said That) easy to see how you miss that LITTLE bit of help with the kiddo’s!! 😉
#137 what you on about??? 👿
babysitting?????
The kids are in school!!!!!!!!!1
Ohhh _ i got the impression they still babies.. 😐
Oh Cummon – you cannot let them go to achool when our beloved are playing!!!?? 😯
enjoy the break Ice,
I’m off to bed now, hopefully my sweet dreams will turn into reality when the Sharks whip some ass tomorrow 😉
They are 9 and 7. hardly babies.
grade 3 and 1
Comment 141
nah the oldest is 9 going on 16 😯
Nighty night Kette – I believe in dreams!! 😉
i am gonna have an ABF and also hit the sack…long day ahead!! 😀
Yeah i should also go to bed.
Night everyone.
GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#144…that scares the living shit out of me… 😕 My oldest 5…and a real teenager-tantrummy already…. 🙁 🙁
The youngest…well I’ll have to learn from my mistakes and give a hiding or two…Ja- sure!! 😉
KSA – I am still my Mom’s baby…and I am a bit away from 9! 😆
Bye Guys!!! See you in a little over a week!!! KSA – dont forget to put a article up for me!! 😉
have a good holiday, Ice.
Thanks Robo!! I am planning to do JUST THAT!! be good and keep my spot for me!!! 😀
that goes without saying.
Enjoy the win tomorrow
😉 Be good!!