The Warriors claimed a vital Momentum One Day Cup victory over the Unlimited Titans in an exciting match played in front of a vocal home crowd at Buffalo Park yesterday afternoon.
The Warriors managed to win by 14 runs in the end following an impressive lower-order fight-back from the Titans, who fell short after they were bowled out for 271.
Captain Colin Ingram led the Warriors’ effort with an unbeaten 97 that saw them reach 285 all out after they looked as if they would score in excess of 300, only for a lower-order collapse to end those hopes.
Basheer Walters 3/70, Lundi Mbane 2/22 and Jon-Jon Smuts 2/44 starred as the Titans started the last over still in with a shout of winning, but ultimately fell short.
The Titans chase got off to a decent start, only for Walters to end the promising stand in the sixth over as he caught Aiden Markram (13) off his own bowling.
Mangaliso Mosehle then joined Henry Davids at the crease and they shared in a 29-run stand before Mbane was introduced into the attack, castling the dangerous Davids for a run-a-ball 30, with the score on 62. Mbane then returned for his second over and trapped new man Grant Mokoena in front for a second-ball duck, as the Titans slipped to 64/3 in the 13th over.
Mosehle, who received a lifeline when he was dropped by Christiaan Jonker on 15, could not capitalise, and, after reaching 30 and helping the Titans pass a 100, he was run out, thanks to a quick throw from Yaseen Vallie to the bowlers’ end.
Graeme van Buuren and Grant Thompson then looked to revive the innings with a half-century stand, but Van Buuren, having just reached 52, was stumped by Clyde Fortuin off the bowling of Smuts as the Titans dropped to 156/5.
Heinrich Klaasen (7) then came and went, and with the score on 167/6 it seemed as if the Titans were out of the game.
A 62-run stand between Thompson and Rowan Richards (20) gave them hope, however, and despite the injured Heino Khun, in at No8, only making four, Junior Dala with a quick-fire 20 kept them in the match.
They started the final over needing 21 to win and despite Thompson hitting the first two balls for a boundary and a two, his valiant 79-run effort ended with the third ball – caught in the deep.
The Warriors, after winning the toss, elected to bat in superb batting conditions.
Openers Smuts and Colin Ackermann started positively, with Ackermann lofting Van Buuren straight back over his head for a six as early as the third over.
Smuts and Ackermann brought up the Warriors’ 50 in the ninth over off 54 balls.
Smuts set off on a quick single, only for Ackermann (41), running to the danger end, to be caught short of his ground.
This brought captain Ingram to the crease, and, with just eight more runs added to the total, Thompson comfortably took a return catch to dismiss Smuts (44) as the Warriors slipped to 93/2 in the 17th over. Vallie then strode to the crease and he and Ingram took the Warriors past 100.
Vallie played on from Davids to become the third Warriors wicket to fall, with the score on 122.
Border star Jerry Nqolo joined Ingram at the crease and the two played positively.
Nqolo only managed to score his first run off his fifth ball, before stepping on the gas to dominate a 39-run partnership off 42 balls, striking six boundaries and scoring 31 runs.
Having just passed Ingram, who was on 30, with a four, Nqolo came down the wicket to Davids but misjudged the flight and his entertaining 28-ball knock came to an end when keeper Mosehle effected the stumping. New man Jonker and Ingram took the Warriors past 200 in the 35th over, with Ingram bringing up his half century with a six off Junior Dala in the next over.
With the score on 243 in the 40th over, the Titans finally broke the impressive partnership as Jonker (34 off 25 balls, 1x4, 3x6) was caught on the boundary by Dala off the bowling of Tabraz Shamsi, ending the 82-run stand off just 58 deliveries.
Clyde Fortuin (9) was next in but having added 20 to the total with Ingram, he was also caught in the deep looking to clear the ropes.
This exposed the Warriors’ tail and despite Ingram battling cramps and trying to reach his century, the final four wickets fell for 23 runs off 39 balls, leaving Ingram stranded on 97 with five balls in the innings to spare.
Warriors slay the Titans
The Warriors managed to win by 14 runs in the end following an impressive lower-order fight-back from the Titans, who fell short after they were bowled out for 271.
Captain Colin Ingram led the Warriors’ effort with an unbeaten 97 that saw them reach 285 all out after they looked as if they would score in excess of 300, only for a lower-order collapse to end those hopes.
Basheer Walters 3/70, Lundi Mbane 2/22 and Jon-Jon Smuts 2/44 starred as the Titans started the last over still in with a shout of winning, but ultimately fell short.
The Titans chase got off to a decent start, only for Walters to end the promising stand in the sixth over as he caught Aiden Markram (13) off his own bowling.
Mangaliso Mosehle then joined Henry Davids at the crease and they shared in a 29-run stand before Mbane was introduced into the attack, castling the dangerous Davids for a run-a-ball 30, with the score on 62. Mbane then returned for his second over and trapped new man Grant Mokoena in front for a second-ball duck, as the Titans slipped to 64/3 in the 13th over.
Mosehle, who received a lifeline when he was dropped by Christiaan Jonker on 15, could not capitalise, and, after reaching 30 and helping the Titans pass a 100, he was run out, thanks to a quick throw from Yaseen Vallie to the bowlers’ end.
Graeme van Buuren and Grant Thompson then looked to revive the innings with a half-century stand, but Van Buuren, having just reached 52, was stumped by Clyde Fortuin off the bowling of Smuts as the Titans dropped to 156/5.
Heinrich Klaasen (7) then came and went, and with the score on 167/6 it seemed as if the Titans were out of the game.
A 62-run stand between Thompson and Rowan Richards (20) gave them hope, however, and despite the injured Heino Khun, in at No8, only making four, Junior Dala with a quick-fire 20 kept them in the match.
They started the final over needing 21 to win and despite Thompson hitting the first two balls for a boundary and a two, his valiant 79-run effort ended with the third ball – caught in the deep.
The Warriors, after winning the toss, elected to bat in superb batting conditions.
Openers Smuts and Colin Ackermann started positively, with Ackermann lofting Van Buuren straight back over his head for a six as early as the third over.
Smuts and Ackermann brought up the Warriors’ 50 in the ninth over off 54 balls.
Smuts set off on a quick single, only for Ackermann (41), running to the danger end, to be caught short of his ground.
This brought captain Ingram to the crease, and, with just eight more runs added to the total, Thompson comfortably took a return catch to dismiss Smuts (44) as the Warriors slipped to 93/2 in the 17th over. Vallie then strode to the crease and he and Ingram took the Warriors past 100.
Vallie played on from Davids to become the third Warriors wicket to fall, with the score on 122.
Border star Jerry Nqolo joined Ingram at the crease and the two played positively.
Nqolo only managed to score his first run off his fifth ball, before stepping on the gas to dominate a 39-run partnership off 42 balls, striking six boundaries and scoring 31 runs.
Having just passed Ingram, who was on 30, with a four, Nqolo came down the wicket to Davids but misjudged the flight and his entertaining 28-ball knock came to an end when keeper Mosehle effected the stumping. New man Jonker and Ingram took the Warriors past 200 in the 35th over, with Ingram bringing up his half century with a six off Junior Dala in the next over.
With the score on 243 in the 40th over, the Titans finally broke the impressive partnership as Jonker (34 off 25 balls, 1x4, 3x6) was caught on the boundary by Dala off the bowling of Tabraz Shamsi, ending the 82-run stand off just 58 deliveries.
Clyde Fortuin (9) was next in but having added 20 to the total with Ingram, he was also caught in the deep looking to clear the ropes.
This exposed the Warriors’ tail and despite Ingram battling cramps and trying to reach his century, the final four wickets fell for 23 runs off 39 balls, leaving Ingram stranded on 97 with five balls in the innings to spare.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos