Warriors wrapped up at Willowmoore
Titans enjoy a solid Sunfoil Series win at Willowmoore Park.
Domestic franchise cricket returned to Benoni from Thursday, October 2, to Sunday, October 5, when The Unlimited Titans hosted the Chevrolet Warriors in a four-day Sunfoil Series match, at Willowmoore Park.
The Titans notched up their first win of the season, after a fantastic four days with both the bat and the ball.
Batting first, skipper Henry Davids’ men enjoyed a ruthless display with the willow and had the Warriors chasing leather for most of the first two days.
All-rounder Roelof van der Merwe blitzed his way to a sublime double century, scoring an unbeaten 205 off 260 balls which propelled the home team to a large first innings total of 539/6 in their declared first innings.
He hit 24 fours and three sixes on his way to his double hundred.
Theunis de Bruyn (95), Farhaan Behardien (74) and Mangaliso Mosehle (67) also made valuable contributions to their 539 run total as the Warriors’ bowlers struggled on a slow Willowmoore pitch.
The Warriors came to the crease and battled from the get-go.
They were 45/4 at tea on day two before Protea batsman Colin Ingram (111) and Simon Harmer (51) saved some face for the team from the Eastern Cape.
The experience Ethy Mbhalati wrapped up their innings after lunch on Saturday with the Warriors scoring a total of 291 all out.
The Titans would bat again and declared on 165/5 in a pulsating second innings to set their opponents a massive target of 414 runs.
Ingram fell seven short of a second century in the game, but his efforts proved fruitless as his team,
The Warriors, had 225 for four in the 89th over, shortly after tea, but lost their final six wickets for just 19 extra runs in 14.3 overs, as swing bowler Rowan Richards orchestrated a sensational lower order collapse as he captured five Warriors wickets for just 33 runs in 14.4 overs.
This spell ensured a 170 run victory for the home team.
The Titans secured 10 bonus points for their superb win and 4.76 batting points.
They also collected four bowling points in Benoni, after an inspired team effort over the four days.
The Warriors managed 3.32 batting bonus points, and two points for bowling.
