Titans get title challenge back on target
A clinical bowling performance from The Unlimited Titans set up a four-wicket victory over the bizhub Highveld Lions at Senwes Park and gave them their first points of the Ram Slam T20 season.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl on a pitch with a hint of inconsistent bounce, the Titans bowled the Lions out for just 115 with Tabraiz Shamsi leading the way with figures of 3 for 20.
Although they had a few stutters along the way, the visitors then knocked off the runs with 13 balls to spare, with Quinton de Kock (36) top-scoring in his first game against his old franchise.
While the pitch may not have been a batsman’s paradise, it wasn’t nearly as bad as the Lions score suggested and the Titans deserved credit for executing their plans well.
The Lions innings was something of a procession – particularly after Rassie van der Dussen (27) had fallen to leave Thami Tsolekile (58) to fight a lone battle – with no partnerships to speak of and no other batsmen reaching double figures.
Although he was the only bowler to go for more than seven runs per over, Lungi Ngidi (2 for 30) was one of the standout bowlers for the Titans as he picked up the big wickets of Alviro Petersen and Tsolekile.
The Lions had not needed their middle and lower orders in their opening two games but found them exposed here as the Titans ran riot.
Albie Morkel’s side was held up in their chase by some wily bowling from Aaron Phangiso, who picked up the wickets of De Kock, Mangaliso Mosehle and Heino Kuhn to record figures of 3 for 19 in four overs, but always had enough batting reserves to get them over the line.
While Kuhn’s dismissal left them 84 for six, there was no real scoreboard pressure and so Graeme van Buuren and Chris Morris calmly knocked off the remaining runs required. - ANA