AB and Albie at their brutal best as Titans rubbish neighbours

The joke goes that this season’s domestic T20 challenge shouldn’t be contested because the Titans have won it by default.

It’s an understandable sentiment given that – at full strength – they boast no less than 10 Proteas in their squad.

They predictably got off to a rampant start on Sunday night with a comprehensive victory by eight wickets over the Highveld Lions in Centurion.

The Titans boast such a powerful batting line-up that, at times, it seemed as if they trying to openly brag about it.

Aiden Markram, the exciting Proteas prospect, wasn’t even used and captain Albie Morkel boldly came in before a certain AB de Villiers.

But those moves proved wholly justified.

Chasing a revised target of 135 in 15 overs after a storm interrupted proceedings, Morkel showcased his brutal power with an unbeaten 41 off 16.

The 36-year-old veteran initially tried too hard to impose himself but once he smashed Lions skipper Aaron Phangiso for a straight six, Morkel found his range.

His buddy De Villiers did find his way to the crease after two quick wickets by 19-year-old Wiaan Mulder (2/28) briefly threatened to make the target seem demanding.

Yet De Villiers was simply disdainful, whacking an unbeaten 51 off 19.

Earlier, Morkel was the main beneficiary of some poor Lions batting as he grabbed 3/12 in a profitable three-over spell.

That haul included two wickets in the very first over of the match.

Rassie van der Dussen tamely nudged him down the legside before Mangaliso Mosehle showed poor judgement in trying to smack him over the off-side, only to perish.

While the rest of his teammates showed little application, Reeza Hendricks showed his class.

The Lions opener played some sumptuously, proper cricket shots before exploding at the end to finish on an unbeaten 67 off 42.

His effort was merely a temporary inconvenience for the home side.

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