Yet another draw for the Titans after brilliant innings by De Zorzi
After their fifth draw of the current season in the 4-Day Domestic cricket series, Grant Thomson and his Titans team’s chances are getting slimmer to be crowned champion this year.
The Titans’ hopes of being crowned champion in the local 4-Day Domestic Series received another blow last week after their fifth draw of the season.
Fortunately for Mandla Mashimbyi’s team, the leaders on the log, the Lions, lost to the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg last week. This result kept the Titans’ chances alive to still be able to win the tournament at the end of the current season.
Grant Thomson and his men, however, will need to start winning games urgently if they want to wipe out the 28-point difference between themselves and the Lions on the log.
A career-best double hundred by Tony de Zorzi saved the Titans from a defeat against the Cape Cobras last week in Cape Town.
The left-hander batted for just under nine hours and amassed an excellent 213 not out, facing 351 balls and striking 30 fours as well as a six as his side turned their innings deficit of 159 into a target of 301.
He started day four unbeaten on 114 and extended his overnight partnership with Farhaan Behardien (92 off 172 balls) to a fine 192 for the fourth wicket.
De Zorzi then put on 117 for the fifth wicket alongside Dayyaan Galiem (53 off 78 balls) before the declaration came with the score on 470 for five.
That left the Cobras a target of just over 300 and they found themselves in trouble early when Matthew Kleinveldt, (16), Simon Khomari (1) and Janneman Malan (16) were all sent packing with just 45 on the board.
Ryan Cartwright (2/35) was the Titans bowler who did the most damage.
But Kyle Verreynne (72 off 100 balls) and Jason Smith (27) managed to steady the ship with a 57-run fourth-wicket stand that took the home side past 100.
Even though the all-rounder then fell, Aviwe Mgijima (19 not out) helped his young wicketkeeping team-mate to take them to a draw.
The men from Centurion can make great progress this week if they manage to convincingly beat the Highveld Lions at SuperSport Park.
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