Titans batsmen survive long enough in final to share 4Day trophy with Lions
The Titans' batsmen managed to survive long enough on the final day of the CSA 4-Day (Division 1) final against the Lions in Johannesburg to force a draw, meaning the two neighbours on either side of the Jukskei River will share the trophy.
A valiant hundred by Lhuan-dre Pretorius backed up by equally defiant half centuries from Keegan Petersen and Rivaldo Moonsamy helped the Titans secure a gutsy draw and share of the CSA 4-Day Series (Division 1) title with the Lions on the final day in Johannesburg.
Resuming the last morning on 118 for three, and still needing a mighty 172 to make the hosts bat again, the trio played key roles to help the visitors bat out the day and eventually reach 371 when they were bowled out with what proved to be the final ball of the day.
At that stage, the lead was 81, but with the light dwindling, the umpires decided to call off play as the cross Jukskei rivals had to settle for a share of the trophy.
The Titans entered the final day of a match in which four sessions were lost due to inclement weather with the odds hugely against them. But they turned the tables to secure an honourable draw.
The usually attacking Pretorius was at the heart of the outcome after he batted for more than five hours for 114 off 209 balls (13 fours).
Photo: Supplied
The left-hander, who was 30 not out overnight, first put on 75 with Petersen (75 off 169 balls, 8 fours) for the fourth wicket as the visitors dug deep following a difficult start to their follow-on innings.
That partnership took them to 180, before a 140-run fifth-wicket stand between the teenage centurion and Moonsamy (79 off 195 balls, 16 fours) that went a long way towards ultimately stretching the game beyond the Titans.
By the time Pretorius fell after posting his third career century, the game was already into its final session.
Andile Phehlukwayo fell for a duck in the same over to star Lions bowler Bjorn Fortuin, who bagged five for 123 in a marathon 48 overs, to open up the game once again.
However, Moonsamy then carried the baton forward for his side, and even though he was dismissed late one, the lead and time worked against the reigning champions, and they had to settle for a share of the trophy in 2024/25.
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