Titans wins second title with success in Sunfoil series
The Titans on Sunday won their second national title for the second consecutive season by being crowned as new champions in the Sunfoil four-day series.
Just like last year the Titans again ended their domestic season with two national titles when they were crowned as champions in the Sunfoil four-day series this weekend.
The odds were heavily stacked against the Titans as they went into the final round of the Sunfoil Series, but showing great character, courage and skill they managed to overcome awful weather, the defending champions and the other two teams in strong contention as they clinched the four-day title at SuperSport Park on Sunday.
They initially relied heavily on their opponents, the Knights, agreeing to declarations in the first innings that would see both sides bat for just 40 overs after the first two days of the match were washed out by rain. The Knights were in a similar position to the Titans and just as desperate to go all out for the win that would give them a chance of retaining their title.
With a pair of punishing 80’s by Heino Kuhn and Heinrich Klaasen giving the Titans a 100-run first-innings lead, it was the fast bowling strike power of Chris Morris that the hosts relied on for the crucial advantage.
The Knights batting line-up relies heavily on David Miller and Rudi Second, and Morris, having dismissed the Proteas left-hander in the first innings, added both their scalps in the second, for 52 and 76 respectively.
Apart from Ryan McLaren (36) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (29), the rest of the Knights batting submerged quicker than some of the nearby golf courses in the deluge of the first two days, as they were bowled out for 209, Morris taking a fantastic six for 55.
Malusi Siboto provided admirable support and took three for 43, which took his tally of wickets to 25, second only to Shaun von Berg’s 29 amongst the Titans bowlers this season.
The Titans were left a target of 110 for victory and their sixth franchise four-day title, which they achieved inside 20 overs.
Kuhn scored a bright 43 to take the Titans to 89 for three, before a late clatter of wickets which made the winning margin smaller than it should have been.
The four-day title is the second trophy the Titans have won this season, which is coach Mark Boucher’s second in charge – his tally of major cups is now four – after the RamSlam T20 Challenge triumph. But Boucher is sure his team can get even better.
“It was a tough Sunfoil Series and we didn’t play great cricket, especially at the back end. We had to fight out quite a few draws but to win here after two days of rain was fantastic and it showed character. The guys showed they really wanted to win, to score nearly 270 in 40 overs was fabulous and it gave us a nice cushion and then the guys were excellent with the ball,” said a delighted Boucher.
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