But despite the pressure building, Viljoen remained calm throughout to edge the visitors over the line.

Earlier, the Boland innings was a tale of two halves after the home team were reduced to 23/4 and 90/6 before the tail wagged spectacularly to get their team up to competitive 247/8.

After losing the toss and being inserted by the Dolphins, the Boland top-order succumbed to the slow poison of Prenalyn Subrayen (2/35) and Keshav Maharaj (2/36).

The Dolphins duo enjoyed the spin-friendly conditions, and with aid of a couple of dubious decisions from umpire Lubabalo Gcuma, Blayde Capell (2), Gavin Kaplan (6) and Aviwe Mgijima (1) were all trapped in front.

And when seamer Andile Simelane sent Lehan Botha’s middle stump cartwheeling, the Boland Park faithful were left wondering if the first Cricket SA limited-overs final at the winelands venue since 1999 was going to be a major anti-climax.

However, it was former Dolphins man Grant Roelofsen and Boland captain Clyde Reeves-Fortuin that began the rebuilding process with a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket.

But just when Boland were starting to see the rainbow emerging, umpire Gcuma struck again when he adjudged Roelofsen (41) caught behind off Subrayen despite there being a clear gap between bat and ball.

And when Shaun von Berg followed shortly afterwards, it seemed Boland’s fate had been sealed.

Nobody informed Aya Gqamane and Imran Manack of the script though with the pair sharing a heroic 96-run eighth-wicket stand from 75 deliveries.

Both Gqamane (69 off 77 balls) and Manack (50 not out off 39 balls) showed up their top-order by cracking nine boundaries and three sixes during their partnership with both batters striking half-centuries to go along with the skipper Fortuin’s 54 (64 balls).

SCORES:

Boland: 247/8 (Gqamane 69, Fortuin 54, Manack 50*, Roelofsen 41, Lulus 2/32, Subrayen 2/35, Maharaj 2/36)

Dolphins: 248/6 (Smuts 91, Zondo 45, Viljoen 35*, Mahima 3/25).

RESULT: Dolphins win by 4 wickets.

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Viljoen heroics helps Dolphins claim victory in thrilling Cricket SA 1-Day Cup Final