Titans complicate things for themselves with successive defeats
Although the Titans' campaign in the local T20 Challenge has been inflicted a severe blow last week, their fate is largely still in their own hands.
The Titans‘ unbeaten record in the domestic T20 Challenge was duly destroyed last week when they suffered two defeats in the space of three days.
The Dolphins became the first team to beat the men from Centurion in the T20 Challenge this season when they secured a six-wicket win in Durban last week.
The Durbanites’ onslaught was led by Cameron Delport. The big all-rounder smashed 62 from 33 balls as the hosts chased down a 171 victory target with four balls to spare.
It was a first defeat for the defending champions in the 2016 competition after they won five of their previous six games, with their odd result being a washed out fixture.
In a highly-entertaining clash, Albie Morkel won the toss and chose to bat, whereupon he and his teammates have scored a good total of 177. Farhaan Behardien top-scored with a top-class 72 not out with only 40 balls. Heino Kuhn struck 30, while Albie Morkel chipped in with an unbeaten 29. The most successful of the bowlers was Robbie Frylinck with 2/37.
The Dolphins chase was set up by a blistering start by Delport and Morné van Wyk (27). The pair put on 60 in 5.4 overs to lay the foundation for the win.
* After this defeat the Warriors came to Centurion on Friday to reduce the gap between themselves and the wounded Titans on the log and with an unexpected victory they managed to do just that.
A record five-wicket haul by Andrew Birch as well as half-centuries from Colin Ingram and Colin Ackermann helped the Warriors pull off a superb six-wicket win over the log leaders.
Fast bowler Birch first claimed a remarkable 5/16 in 3.2 overs, which were the best-ever figures for either side in the history of the fixture, as the defending champions were bowled out for 147 at SuperSport Park.
David Wiese, who held the previous best bowling return of 5/19 between the sides, top scored with the bat by making 36, while there were 20s for Aiden Markram (23), Heinrich Klaasen (26) and Albie Morkel (25) after the visitors had won the toss and opted to field first.
The second-placed Warriors then lost Somila Seyibokwe in the first over to Morkel (2/16), but Jon-Jon Smuts (33) put on 68 for the second wicket with Ingram to resurrect the chase.
Ingram offered stability with his 50 from 45 balls, with the fireworks then coming from Ackermann (53 off 34 balls) following the departure of their captain.
That ensured that the men from the Eastern Cape secured a comfortable win with seven balls to spare as they closed the gap at the summit to just a point behind the Titans.
Despite their setbacks last week, the Titans are in a position where their fate is still in their own hands. This is, of course, except the possibility that Mother Nature may intervene in one of their last two league fixtures through possible rainfall that could influence games. If things proceed normally, however, Morkel and his team will only have to win their last two games to ensure that they either go directly through to the final or will be involved in a home semi-final.
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