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Dolphins v Lions rained out

Durban - Neil McKenzie struck an impressive century before rain proved to be the ultimate winner as the Dolphins and Highveld Lions saw their One Day Cup match ruined by rain at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday.

The veteran batsman made 101 from 111 deliveries -- his 11th one-day hundred -- and shared in an unbroken 188 run partnership with Jean Symes (97 off 96 balls) to lift the visitors to 233 for three from a rain-reduced 45 overs.

In reply, the hosts reached one for one amid two drizzle interruptions, and with the showers getting heavier, the match was abandoned a single over into the reply.

Both sides shared the two points to stay unbeaten and remain top of the table after two games.

At the start of proceedings, the Dolphins won a delayed toss and chose to bowl first.

A brief rain delay prior to the scheduled 2.30pm toss meant the match was reduced by 10 overs with an hour also lost.

The Durbanites made a flying start with Craig Alexander striking a telling blow inside the opening over by dismissing Alviro Petersen, caught behind by Morne van Wyk, for a second-ball duck.

It was 19 for two in the seventh over as the Lions lost Stephen Cook (nine) -- the captain was squared up by a Robbie Frylinck delivery and edged behind to Vaughn van Jaarsveld at first slip.

Debutant Sibonelo Makhanya claimed a third scalp before the 50 was even raised, trapping Temba Bavuma leg before wicket for 17.

The half century was eventually raised in the 19th over as McKenzie and Symes dropped anchor.

They raised the 50 partnership in 86 deliveries, followed by the 100 in the 31st over.

McKenzie, who clubbed two sixes and nine fours, reached his half century off 87 balls, with Symes crossing the mark in 75 deliveries as the tempo was upped by the visitors.

The pair continued to punish their hosts and accelerated at a seething pace courtesy of a further 121 added in the final 10 overs.

During that time, the seasoned McKenzie brought up his three figures from 110 deliveries, while the fourth-wicket partnership, which came from a total of 175 deliveries, crossed record proportions as the two batsmen surpassed the previous best mark between the two sides set by Justin Ontong and Vaughn van Jaarsveld in 2006/07.

The Dolphins faced two balls before an initial delay and when they returned, they lost the wicket of Cameron Delport (nought) to Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

The players went off at around 19:56 and never returned with both sides sharing the spoils.

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