A crazy 10-over slog fest decided top spot as the Titans managed a breathless six-run win over the Warriors at an overcast Buffalo Park yesterday afternoon.
A long rain delay saw the match shortened to just five overs per side and carnage ensued with fours and sixes raining all over during the 10-over smash-off.
The Titans hammered 80 runs batting first, thanks to the in-form Farhaan Behardien scoring the quickest CSA T20 Challenge 50 in history, off just 14 deliveries, with him ending unbeaten on 55 off 15 balls (4x4, 5x6).
The Warriors then replied with 74/2 with cameos from Christiaan Jonker, a nine ball 26 (4x4,1x6), Jon Jon Smuts (21) and Colin Ingram 19.
The Warriors will now face the Lions at St George’s Park in the play-off on Tuesday, with the final against the Titans at Centurion on Friday awaiting the victors.
Needing just more than 16 runs an over to win, Smuts set the tone for the chase hammering opening bowler Lungi Ngidi for a four and a six off the first two balls, while an Ingram six off the fifth ball meant 19 came off the opening over.
A six and a four in the next over saw Smuts move to 21, but Junior Dala had the last laugh as Smuts skied the fifth ball to Behardien with the Warriors on 29/1.
The third over bowled by Albie Morkel saw the Warriors take charge as an Ingram six and a few boundaries from Christiaan Jonker saw them pass 50 at the end of it.
A tidy fourth over from David Wiese then pulled the match back in the Titans’ favour as Ingram (19) skied one to Behardien again. With just six runs coming off the over, this meant the Warriors needed 22 off the final over to win.
Malusi Siboto held his nerve to concede 15 runs to seal the win.
Due to the rain delay, the toss was finally held at 5pm with the Warriors winning and electing to field.
Warriors strike bowler Andrew Birch bowled the first over and with the Titans looking for quick runs, Birch ran out Jonathan Vandiar (1) off the third ball after Heino Kuhn dropped the ball at his feet and set off.
First ball of the second over, Kuhn tried to cut Basheer Walters only to deflect the ball straight onto his stumps to be out for five.
Behardien and Heinrich Klaasen (17 not out) then gave the innings the impetus it needed by hammering Smuts for 24 off the third over.
The carnage continued in the next over as the Titans 50 was brought up as two fours, a wide and two sixes came off the first four balls of Sisanda Magala’s over, with Berhadien then skying the fifth ball to mid-off.
The over ended with 27 having been plundered off it, and Kyle Abbott, making his Warriors debut, could do nothing as Behardien smashed him for two boundaries before bringing up his half-century in style, driving the ball straight over the bowler’s head for a six.
Titans’ slog fest win
A long rain delay saw the match shortened to just five overs per side and carnage ensued with fours and sixes raining all over during the 10-over smash-off.
The Titans hammered 80 runs batting first, thanks to the in-form Farhaan Behardien scoring the quickest CSA T20 Challenge 50 in history, off just 14 deliveries, with him ending unbeaten on 55 off 15 balls (4x4, 5x6).
The Warriors then replied with 74/2 with cameos from Christiaan Jonker, a nine ball 26 (4x4,1x6), Jon Jon Smuts (21) and Colin Ingram 19.
The Warriors will now face the Lions at St George’s Park in the play-off on Tuesday, with the final against the Titans at Centurion on Friday awaiting the victors.
Needing just more than 16 runs an over to win, Smuts set the tone for the chase hammering opening bowler Lungi Ngidi for a four and a six off the first two balls, while an Ingram six off the fifth ball meant 19 came off the opening over.
A six and a four in the next over saw Smuts move to 21, but Junior Dala had the last laugh as Smuts skied the fifth ball to Behardien with the Warriors on 29/1.
The third over bowled by Albie Morkel saw the Warriors take charge as an Ingram six and a few boundaries from Christiaan Jonker saw them pass 50 at the end of it.
A tidy fourth over from David Wiese then pulled the match back in the Titans’ favour as Ingram (19) skied one to Behardien again. With just six runs coming off the over, this meant the Warriors needed 22 off the final over to win.
Malusi Siboto held his nerve to concede 15 runs to seal the win.
Due to the rain delay, the toss was finally held at 5pm with the Warriors winning and electing to field.
Warriors strike bowler Andrew Birch bowled the first over and with the Titans looking for quick runs, Birch ran out Jonathan Vandiar (1) off the third ball after Heino Kuhn dropped the ball at his feet and set off.
First ball of the second over, Kuhn tried to cut Basheer Walters only to deflect the ball straight onto his stumps to be out for five.
Behardien and Heinrich Klaasen (17 not out) then gave the innings the impetus it needed by hammering Smuts for 24 off the third over.
The carnage continued in the next over as the Titans 50 was brought up as two fours, a wide and two sixes came off the first four balls of Sisanda Magala’s over, with Berhadien then skying the fifth ball to mid-off.
The over ended with 27 having been plundered off it, and Kyle Abbott, making his Warriors debut, could do nothing as Behardien smashed him for two boundaries before bringing up his half-century in style, driving the ball straight over the bowler’s head for a six.
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