INCLEMENT weather in Johannesburg resulted in a stuttering opening day of the top-of-the-table Four-Day Series clash between the Lions and Dolphins at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.
With the heavens having opened on Wednesday night on the highveld, the toss and start of the match were delayed at the Bullring on Thursday.
Play only got underway about 90 minutes late, with the Lions calling correctly at the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision that was undoubtedly motivated by the gloomy overhead conditions.
Day 1 | Stumps⚪️🟡
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) March 27, 2025
Play is called off for the day due to bad light.
🐬Dolphins are 83/2 at the close of the first days play in our final home game of the season.
Here's hoping for better conditions the next 3 days🌤️#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi#SpiritOfChampions #4DaySeries… pic.twitter.com/lNb72KoGdG
The Lions unleashed seamers Codi Yusuf and Lutho Sipamla at the visiting Dolphins’ opening batting duo of Sarel Erwee and Tshepang Dithole.
Erwee and Dithole batted together for almost 10 overs in tough, seaming and swinging conditions before Erwee was bowled by Sipamla in the 10th over to hand the Lions their first scalp of the day.
Shortly after, the heavens opened once again, sending the two teams to an early lunch with the Dolphins’ score reading 36/1, thus breaking the momentum Sipamla and Yusuf had built with the new ball.
When the rain subsided, the Lions’ quicks picked up where they left off, causing problems for the visiting batters, and it was not long before Tshepo Moreki got the better of left-handed batter Bryce Parsons (five).
Dithole was joined by last week’s centurion, Jason Smith, at the crease, and the right-handed batter quickly asserted his dominance over the Lions’ bowling attack.
The 30-year-old, who scored 117 not out against North West last week to secure the victory, took a liking to Moreki, playing exquisite cover drives and pull shots against the right-arm seamer until bad light interrupted play.
With the dark clouds hanging over the Bullring and no signs of moving on, the umpires had no choice but to call stumps prematurely on day one, with only 26 overs bowled as the Dolphins ended on 83/2.
Dithole will resume his innings on an unbeaten 86-ball 47 on day two, while Smith (22 not out) will be looking to cash in on his good form and help the Dolphins post a decent first-innings total.
There is all to play for on day two as the two teams look to secure a home final.