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By Heinz Schenk

Journalist


Dale Steyn makes a decent return as Titans steam along

The champion Proteas fast bowler makes up for a poor start with the ball as the Knights succumb to the juggernaut in the Ram Slam.


The comfortable manner in which the Titans beat the Knights in the domestic T20 challenge in Kimberley on Wednesday night meant it was more useful to focus on something different.

Unsurprisingly then, it was the return of Dale Steyn in the victory by 38 runs that was the main talking point.

The 34-year-old Proteas fast bowler, returning to competitive action for more than a year, certainly will feel satisfied by his outing.

It didn’t start all that well though.

After overstepping with his first delivery, Steyn was hit for three successive fours by Knights opener Grant Mokoena as he conceded 17 runs in his first over.

But the champion bowler showed glimpses of his class when he returned to the attack, conceding only a further eight runs in his next two overs and claiming the key wicket of home captain Theunis de Bruyn (22) with an off-cutter.

That dismissal killed off any hopes of the Knights chasing the Titans’ 199/4.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was arguably the best bowler with a good spell of 2/30.

On a cold, windy evening, the Titans’ power-packed batting line-up fired again on a bowling surface that wasn’t easy to bat on.

Veteran Henry Davids was the initial aggressor with a punchy 50 off 42 balls, a knock that included three majestic sixes.

His platform meant the promising Aiden Markram could’ve eased himself to a 34-ball 50, an innings where he didn’t seem rushed at all.

AB de Villiers continued his ominous form with 43 off just 20 deliveries before Farhaan Berhadien applied the finishing touches with a brutal, unbeaten 37 off 14.

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