The Cape Cobras were frustrated by the Dolphins on Monday as they bid to claim the 4-Day Series title in the final round of clashes.
After skipper Dane Piedt won the toss and put his hosts in to bat at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, he must have rued the decision straight away as Michael Erlank and Vaughn van Jaarsveld climbed into his bowlers.
The opening pair put on 111 before Erlank (50) became the first of spinner George Linde’s four victims on the day.
Van Jaarsveld would go on to be the glue of the innings, scoring a sparkling 120 as the Dolphins reached 226/5.
Linde was chipping away at the other end, claiming the scalps of Marques Ackermann and Sibonelo Makhanya before getting Van Jaarsveld to sky one for Aviwe Mgijima to snaffle.
Linde would end the day with figures of 4/62 in his 21 overs.
Dane Paterson (1/58) and Dane Piedt (1/99) were the other wicket-takers as Proteas star Vernon Philander failed to get a nibble.
To make things worse, the play ended early due to bad light with the Dolphins 293/6 and that will surely be the story of the match in their KZN meeting.