Reeza Hendricks blasts Lions to One Day Cup title
The Lions' successful chase was also helped late on by an excellent innings from Bjorn Fortuin.
The Lions lift the winners trophy after their CSA One Day Cup final win against the Titans. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
A brilliant batting performance from Reeza Hendricks and Bjorn Fortuin powered the Lions to a superb three wicket win over the Titans in the CSA One Day Cup final at SuperSport Park on Wednesday night.
Hendricks slammed his way to a breathtaking 157 off 135 balls, featuring 15 boundaries and three maximums, while Fortuin finished off the chase with 62 off 57, hitting four fours and two sixes, including off the first ball of the last over to get his team home.
Needing a tough 319 to win the Lions were well in charge of the chase after a 132-run third wicket partnership between Reeza and Dominic Hendricks (44) had them as favourites on 194/2 after 28 overs, only for a middle order collapse to see the Titans fight back.
Tabraiz Shamsi was the spark for the home side as he removed Dominic Hendricks, Mitchell van Buuren (8) and Shane Dadswell for a second ball duck, while Aaron Phangiso trapped Sisanda Magala for a first ball duck leaving the Lions in huge trouble on 214/6.
But this just brought Fortuin to the crease and along with Reeza Hendricks they powered the Lions back into the favourite’s position, before Hendricks fell with them still needing 15 to win, leaving it to Fortuin to win it in style.
At the start of play the Titans won the toss and chose to bat first, putting in a steady effort until unleashing in the last 10 overs to power themselves to a strong score of 318/6.
Top order batters Neil Brand (73), Theunis de Bruyn (40) and Heinrich Klaasen (34) all contributed to a good start with the Titans well set on 154/2 in the 30th over, before slipping to 162/5.
But this brought Corbin Bosch, 79 off 59 balls (6×4; 3×6) in to join his captain Sibonelo Makhanya, 60 off 37 (7×4; 2×6) and they took a moment to recover before unleashing in the closing overs.
They shared 81 for the sixth wicket, and despite Makhanya becoming Codi Yusuf’s third scalp, Aya Gqamane (13no) fed Bosch the strike over the closing overs as they added another 75 off 43 balls to end their innings well.
