Rain halts Dragons and Titans clash
The Dragons and Titans were set up for a mouth-watering CSA T20 Challenge clash yesterday, but rain came and spoiled the party for both teams.
Rain had last laugh on April Fools Day (Monday, 1 April) as an important middle of the table CSA T20 Challenge clash between the North West Dragons and the Titans ended in a no-result.
There was great anticipation prior to this match which saw the fifth placed Dragons and sixth place Titans square off in Potch. The previous match between the two sides ended with the Titans picking up a narrow 13-run win.
Yesterday, the Titans batted first and made 132/4 after 17.1 overs, before rain came pummeling down.
SA u.19 stars, Steve Stolk (on debut) and Lhuan-dré Pretorius opened the batting for the Titans. Stolk (13 off 9 balls) hit a massive six off Migael Pretorius (2/22), but was out soon after when he tried one shot too many. Pretorius soon followed when his namesake, Migael, dismissed him for 11.
Rivaldo Moonsamy (33 off 28 balls) and Sibonelo Makhanya (52 off 39 balls) put on a 62-run partnership that took the visitors to 92. NW Dragons captain, Sen Muthusamy got the breakthrough as he dismissed Moonsamy who skied a ball to Ruan de Swardt at long-on. Muthusamy himself held on to a superb catch at long-on off the bowling of De Swardt, as Makhanya was dismissed in similar fashion.
This was to be the last piece of action as the covers soon went on, ending a tantalising contest.
The Dragons are still in fifth place on 13 points, with the Titans behind them on 13 points, with a game in hand.
The Dragons are six points off the pace of the Dolphins who are in fourth position on 19 points. The Dolphins managed to beat the KZN Inland Tuskers by 19 runs in an earlier match at the J.B. Marks Oval that formed part of a double header in Potch on the same day.
The Dragons will face the KZN Inland Tuskers tomorrow night (Wednesday, 3 April) at the J.B. Marks Oval in an evening encounter that will start at 18:00.
They will then face the Dolphins on Sunday, 7 April in another home fixture. Two victories here will be crucial in ensuring they move closer to the top four semi-final spots.
