Titans start one day series with surprising loss
The Titans, who are desperate to break their cup drought after last winning a domestic trophy in the 2022-23 season, started their campaign in Division One of the current CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge with a disappointing performance against Boland in Paarl.
The Boland cricket team shocked the Titans and their fans on Sunday when they achieved a very good 5-wicket bonus point victory over the men from Centurion in the first round of matches (Division One) of the current season’s CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge.
The match was played on Boland’s home ground in Paarl.
After Boland won the toss, they decided to send the visitors in to bat first. Glenton Stuurman and Imran Manack immediately put the pressure on the Titans batsmen with excellent bowling and it wasn’t long before wickets started falling with regularity.
Manack dismissed teenage opening batsman and wicketkeeper Lhuan-dré Pretorius for just 6 runs in the fourth over, after which Stuurman dismissed Rivaldo Moonsamy (5) three overs later.
Shortly afterwards, Manack struck again and dismissed captain Neil Brand for only 4 runs thanks to a stumping opportunity by Clyde Fortuin.
Then came the Shaun von Berg performance, which probably took the wind out of the Titans’ sails.
He dismissed three batsmen in the space of six overs and none of them could score double figures. Keegan Petersen (7) did the best of the three before being caught leg before wicket by Von Berg. Before him, Dewald Brevis (3) was caught by Aviwe Mgijima off the former Centurion High School learner’s bowling and the third Von Berg victim was Sibonelo Makhanya (0), who was also caught leg before wicket.
Photo: Titans
The two all-rounders Dayyaan Galiem (45 off 72 balls), assisted by veteran Roelof van der Merwe (23 off 62 balls) saved the Titans from a huge embarrassment towards the end by at least taking their score past 100 runs.
Finally, the Centurion men were all out for 110 runs in the 42nd over.
Van der Merwe (2/10 in 10 overs) also did his part as a bowler and he received good assistance from Tsepo Ndwandwa (3/21 in 7 overs).
With all five of Boland’s top batsmen able to score at least double figures and especially the unbeaten contribution of Gavin Kaplan (42 off 78 balls), the victory was ultimately easy for the home team.
They chased down the target with a score of 111/5 in the 36th over for a bonus point victory.
The Titans’ second match in the tournament is this coming Friday at SuperSport Park in Centurion, when they will take on the Lions. Action starts at 13:00.
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