A coming-of-age, maiden first-class ton from Bryce Parsons guided the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to a crucial eight-wicket CSA 4-Day Domestic Series win over Western Province at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on Tuesday.
The left-hander, who battled cramps during his innings, finished on 134 not out off 277 balls as he carried his bat through the Dolphins chase.
It wasn’t just Parsons that got the Dolphins over the line. He and Ruan de Swardt put on a 208-run partnership as De Swardt finished on 89 not out to guide the Dolphins to their first victory of the competition.
The hundred will be an important moment in Parson’s career but he wants to focus on the team victory rather than his personal milestone.
“It was a great feeling to get that maiden first-class hundred but it was an even better feeling to get the team over the line,” Parsons said.
“I think it was a bit of an up and down three days, a bit of a roller coaster but it’s great to be on the right side of the result.”
Despite a disappointing first innings display, Parsons and the team felt that 273 was going to be chasable.
“We knew what we had to do chasing 273. I thought it was going to be a bit of a challenge on that wicket but with good knocks from Ruan de Swardt and a good start from Roelfie (Grant Roelofsen) it was great to get the win and be on the right side of the result.”
The Dolphins were searching for the final wicket of the Western Province second innings when they began proceedings on Tuesday morning.
Kyle Simmonds and Tshepo Moreki added a further 30 runs to their overnight total before Keshav Maharaj picked up the final wicket to finish with figures of 7-75.
The extra 30 runs meant that the Dolphins were chasing 273 to win the clash.
It was a strong start for the Dolphins in their fourth innings chase as Parsons and Grant Roelofsen put on 48 for the first wicket before the latter was caught off the bowling of Simmonds for 24.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins Keegan Petersen fell for just six to see the Dolphins 65 for two heading into the afternoon session on day three.
After the loss of their second wicket, it became the Parsons, De Swardt show as the pair dug in and ground down the Western Province bowlers to put together a match-winning partnership.
Parsons was hit by cramp during his innings but he continued to defy the Province bowlers as his epic knock saw the Dolphins to an important win in the competition.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins now head to Bloemfontein to face the Itec Knights starting on Sunday, 19 February.
SUMMARY OF SCORE
First Innings
- Six Gun Grill Western Province 210 (E Moore 51, P Subrayen 3/62, K Maharaj 2/74, B Parsons 2/8)
- Hollywoodbets Dolphins 129 (S van Staden 36, G Roelofsen 24, K Simmonds 6/42, T Moreki 3/66)
Second Innings
- Six Gun Grill Western Province 191 (K Simmonds 64, Y Vallie 31, K Maharaj 7/75)
- Hollywoodbets Dolphins 273/2 (B Parsons 134* R de Swardt 89*)
Hollywoodbets Dolphins win by eight wickets
