Multiply Titans 230/55
Bizhub Highveld Lions 184/7
Titans won by 46 runs
A dreadful bowling performance by the Lions handed victory to the Titans on Wednesday night and means the Johannesburg-based franchise have to win their last two matches to secure a spot in the play-offs in the domestic T20 Challenge.
Whatever plans were drawn up on what was the flattest of surfaces at SuperSport Park were certainly not adhered to by the Lions bowlers, whose lines were awful, while their lengths were a mixed bag that gave the Titans batsmen too many easy scoring opportunities.
As a result they notched up the highest total in domestic T20 franchise cricket, eclipsing the previous mark of 225/6 by the Eagles also against the Lions in Potchefstroom in 2004/05.
Jonathan Vandiar claimed an easy half-century opening the innings taking advantage of the width from the Lions bowlers, and freeing his arms to thrash the ball through the off-side and when the lengths shortened he was able to comfortably seek out midwicket hitting three sixes and six fours in his innings of 67, the top score, using up 41 balls.
Vandiar and Aiden Markram shared an opening stand of 70, and off that foundation the rest of the Titans batsmen were able to swing lustily for the remainder of the innings. Although no one got more than Albie Morkel’s 32, such was the rate at which they scored, it didn’t matter and they were able to post a substantial target.
While the Titans were much better with the ball than the Lions – not a hard task given how poor the Lions were – the home team did try and help their provincial neighbours by dropping catches. In total four were spilled, two of which could be classed in the category of ‘sitter.’
Rassie van der Dussen had gotten the Lions off to a flying start – helped by the first of those dropped catches by Malusi Siboto – scoring 45 off 18 balls smashing three fours and four sixes.
However given the required scoring rate at the start of the innings of 11.55, it was going to take more than just one innings to help the Lions achieve that target. Sadly there was little from the rest of the Lions batting with Temba Bavuma’s 33 of 25 balls the next best effort.
David Wiese’s 1/21 was an outstanding effort in a match so dominated by the batsmen, as he mixed up his pace smartly, but most importantly hit the right lengths to make scoring difficult for the Lions batsmen.
Left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi bowled a good spell conceding 31 runs in his four overs, while Siboto claimed 3/27 in two overs, taking advantage of the Lions having to force the pace.
The Lions are in fourth place on the log, in the middle of a trio of teams which are separated by just two points. They host the Knights in Potchefstroom on Friday night before a trip to Paarl for their final league match against the Cobras which could be a knockout affair.
The Titans meanwhile top the table and if they win their last league match against the second placed Warriors on Sunday they will host the final on December 17.