Durban - The Dolphins, led by the in-form Imran Khan, fought back strongly against the Cape Cobras on the second day of their Supersport Series match in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
After bowling out the Cobras for 281, the Dolphins ended the day on 257 for four to be 24 runs behind.
The Cobras had resumed on 227 for 6, but the Dolphins made good use of the new ball which was immediately available.
Yusuf Abdulla bowled Ryan Canning for 55, and completed his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket by inducing an edge from Rory Kleinveldt who was well held by Khan at slip.
"I always seem to have success when I come back to Maritzburg," Abdulla said. The burly left-armer used to call the City Oval home, in his days with the KZN Inland side.
Henry Davids moved on from his overnight 71 to compile a fine century, before he perished to part-time leg-spinner Daryn Smit. The Cobras innings ended when Smit trapped Pepler Sandri in front with the score on 281.
Khan and Delport saw the home side off to a fine start, with both driving particularly well through the off-side. The introduction of JP Duminy into the attack provided the breakthrough, however, as he tied down Delport long enough to induce a false stroke.
The left-hander tried to hit Duminy over wide long-on, but only succeeded into skying a relatively straight-forward catch to Gurshin Rabie at mid-on.
Hashim Amla scratched around for 15 balls before he was caught and bowled by a delighted Duminy as the Dolphins went to lunch on 68 for two.
Khan carried on where he left after the break, mixing sound defence with the odd big shot. He survived a tough chance on 41, when he was dropped by Alastair Gray off Duminy.
Ahmed Amla was largely untroubled until he got an inside edge onto his pad to be easily caught by Stiaan van Zyl to give Duminy a third wicket.
David Miller joined Khan at 98 for three and they added 50 runs before Miller was trapped leg before by Cobras' skipper Justin Ontong for 14.
At 148 for four the Dolphins needed a decent stand, and they got it through Jon Kent and Khan.
The slightly built left-hander reached his third century in as many games with a glide to third man, as the two added 109 unbroken runs.
"It was tough early on, but once we saw off the new ball it got a lot easier," said the newly selected Proteas opener.
Bad light again stopped play, but the Dolphins would have been heartened by their strong afternoon showing. Khan will resume on 135, with Kent on a well-constructed 46.