Titans get Willowmoore win
A Protea-injected Unlimited Titans side ensured a 55-run over the VKB Knights, in their Momentum One Day Cup day/night match, at Sahara Park Willowmoore, on Friday, January 29.
Having been put in to bat first in Benoni, the Titans amassed a pleasing 301 runs for seven wickets in their 50 overs.
A 45-run opening partnership between Quinton de Kock (22) and Henry Davids set the tone for the host team’s batting innings.
When the South African wicketkeeper was dismissed it brought Protea T20 captain Faf du Plessis to the crease.
Dropped from the recent fourth Test match against England, du Plessis needed to get some much-needed runs under his belt ahead of the ODI series against the same opposition.
He did just that with a score of 72 runs (his second List A half-century at Willowmoore Park).
Du Plessis and Davids put on a good partnership until the latter was rather unfortunately run out, thanks to du Plessis’s straight drive deflecting off the hand of bowler Werner Coetsee and finding him out of his crease at the non-striker’s end.
When Heino Kuhn was dismissed for a duck, the Titans found themselves at 122 for three in the 28th over and in a slightly precarious position.
Du Plessis and fellow Protea Farhaan Behardien met up at the wicket and added 60 runs for the fourth wicket off just 48 deliveries, before Behardien was caught at point.
Once du Plessis fell, trying to paddle Shadley van Schalkwyk in the 41st over, the Titans’ run-rate dropped as the Knights bowled well and Mangaliso Mosehle and Albie Morkel battled to get going.
Mosehle lost his wicket and the Titans were 229/6 in the 46th over, until a late onslaught with the willow from the big hitting Morkel (40) and Protea all-rounder Chris Morris (45 not out) saw 75 runs posted on the scoreboard in the last five overs.
With the leather, the same pair of Morris (3/30 in 8.3 overs) and Morkel (2/36 in eight overs) excelled in the Titans bowling innings, while slow left-arm unorthodox Tabraiz Shamsi also did well with figures of 2/52 in 10 overs.
They contributed to a Knights second innings score of 246 all out in the 47th over, ensuring the Titans’ win.
- The Titans return to Benoni in the same competition on Friday, February 5, to play the Cape Cobras.
East Rand cricket lovers are encouraged to turn out in their numbers for what promises to be an exciting clash.
The match will start at 2pm.
For more information contact the Eastern Cricket Union headquarters on 011 746 9000.
