Tag: Multiply Titans

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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TWELVE YEARS OF RESEARCH-BASED PLAYER SERVICE

Over the past 12 years, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has cemented its dedication to evidence-based practice through a…

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MOREKI HAT-TRICK LEADS TITANS TO VICTORY

Tshepo Moreki provided some late inspiration for the Multiply Titans by claiming a hat-trick to help bowl them to an unlikely 129-run victory over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in their 4-Day Domestic Series opener in Centurion on Thursday.

The seamer accounted for Andile Phehlukwayo, Eathan Bosch and Daryn Dupavillon in successive deliveries to finish with a career-best four for 32 that sent the visitors tumbling to 161 all out, chasing 291 on the final afternoon at SuperSport Park.

It was a huge turnaround after the match had earlier appeared to be petering out towards a draw when the Dolphins were 124 for four and around 30 overs to play.

But Moreki’s magic turned the game upside down and concluded a fine victory for the home side, who had declared their second innings on 234 for seven, thanks to Neil Brand, who followed up his maiden century in the first innings with an impressive 77 (102 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes).

Mark Boucher’s side started the last day on 117 for three and they doubled that score thanks to their key batsman from the game.

There was not too much of support for Brand, except for an unbeaten 38 by Dayyaan Galiem and 17 from Junior Dala, the hosts ending their innings in 53.2 overs.

Okuhle Cele was the pick of the bowlers with two for 45, while Dupavillon (2/49) and Phehlukwayo (2/69) also nabbed two wickets apiece.

Injury replacement Jason Oakes, on for Grant Roelofsen at the start of the Titans’ second innings, led the final passage of the game well alongside Vaughn van Jaarsveld (24) with the pair putting on 35 for the first wicket.

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Galiem (2/26) ended the stand, before the substitute, Cody Chetty (15), and Sibonelo Makhanya (18) appeared to be pulling their side towards safety.

But, after Brand (2/20) trapped the latter leg before wicket, Moreki had Phehlukwayo caught at short third man for five, then bowled Bosch and followed that up by having Dupavillon (both nought) caught by wicketkeeper Rubin Hermann.

Those wickets saw the away side fall from 146 for six to 146 for nine and Dala then read the last rites by dismissing Cele (two) to clinch a famous win.

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WALTERS HELPS WARRIORS TO 216 VICTORY OVER THE TITANS

A splendid five-wicket haul by Basheer Walters helped the Warriors stun defending champions the Multiply Titans by 216 runs on the final day of their 4-Day Franchise Series encounter in East London on Monday.

The fast bowler claimed an impressive five for 35 in nine overs – his eighth career five-for as the visitors were ruthlessly dispatched for 136, sealing a second biggest win for the hosts in terms of runs over their opponents.

They had been chasing an unlikely target of 353 in 45 overs after the Warriors had declared their second innings earlier on 310 for five.

The Eastern Cape franchise had started day four with captain Jon-Jon Smuts unbeaten on 49 and seeking quick runs to add to their 254 for five.

The skipper got his way by striking 75 (128 balls, 12 fours), with good support coming from young partner Sinethemba Qeshile (27).

Both ended unbeaten and shared a stand that was worth 66 that concluded with the declaration.

The Titans were then set immediately on the back foot as Andrea Agathangelou and Jonathan Vandiar were both removed with only five runs on the board.

Both made ducks and were in fact amongst five Titans players that failed to trouble the scorers as Walters made merry.

Only lower order pair Shaun von Berg (37) and Corbin Bosch, who completed a second half-century of the game on his way to 59, made any meaningful contributions as their side succumbed in 45 overs.

Apart from Walters, Simon Harmer collected three for 59 in 18 overs to send the Titans tumbling to a second loss of the campaign, one that left them second bottom on the table.

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MOTHOA’S PUTS TITANS AHEAD ON DAY 1

A career-best five-for from Alfred Mothoa handed the Multiply Titans the advantage at the end of the opening day of the 4-Day Franchise Series season against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in Centurion on Wednesday.

The medium-pacer claimed five for 55 to help the reigning champions bowl out the visitors for 269 shortly before stumps, before replying with nine for one – a deficit of 260 at SuperSport Park.

There were also two wickets apiece for Chris Morris (2/34) and Shaun von Berg (2/71) as the relatively inexperienced Dolphins batting line-up struggled.

Only Sibonelo Makhanya troubled the home side with his own franchise-best score of 86 (156 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) as those around him struggled.

The Durbanites had won the toss and opted to bat at the start, with debutants Grant Roelofsen and Jason Oakes (both 31) putting on a solid 52 for the opening wicket. But after the dependable Vaughn van Jaarsveld was cleaned up second ball for one by Mothoa, the visitors lost their way.

Roelofsen followed not long after, while Senuran Muthusamy (7), Cody Chetty (34), Calvin Savage (15) and Robbie Frylinck (0) failed to assert themselves. It left the Dolphins on 143 for seven in the 55th over and facing an early bowl out.

However, Makhanya finally found an able partner in captain Keshav Maharaj (41), with the pair adding 90 for the eighth wicket to frustrate the Titans. The former was eventually last man out with his side dismissed in 83.5 overs.

The latter then claimed the wicket of Tony de Zorzi (one) to give the away side hope heading into day two.

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MORRIS SIX-FOR TAKES TITANS TO SUNFOIL SERIES TITLE

The Multiply Titans were crowned 2017/18 Sunfoil Series champions on Sunday after concluding a tense final round of rain-hit matches with a nervy four-wicket win over the VKB Knights in Centurion.

Chris Morris was their star performer with six for 55 that helped set up a low-scoring chase of 110, which the hosts knocked off with plenty of time to spare.

Mark Boucher’s side went into the final round of games in fourth place and as one of the teams with the slimmest of chances of claiming the four-day crown, but in the end finished the day with their fifth outright first-class title of the franchise era.

The Warriors, who had begun the round first, had to settle for runners-up, and the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras in third.

The final day, which was effectively the second day of the match after the opening two days had been washed out by rain, had started out with the Knights batting on 62 for three and still trailing by 38 in their second innings.

Both sides had faced 40 overs each in their first innings – the away side posting 169 for seven declared and the home side replying with 269 for three declared.

Captain Rudi Second top-scored with 76 (136 balls, 8 fours), with David Miller chipping in with 52 (70 balls, 8 fours), before Morris and Malusi Siboto (3/43) ripped through the middle and lower order to leave the Central franchise all out for 209.

It left a target of just over 100 to get, and despite Marchant de Lange grabbing three for 40, an important 43 from Heino Kuhn and 29 by Farhaan Behardien ensured the Titans got to their target midway through the final afternoon.

They then had to wait for the result of the bizhub Highveld Lions against the Cape Cobras Cobras – the latter needing to win in order to win the title – but as it played out, the Cape side fell to a nine-wicket loss handing the Titans the title.

It also capped another impressive season for Boucher’s side, who secured the double after their success in the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge.

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MORRIS TON CAN’T STOP WARRIORS FROM GOING TOP

An outstanding rearguard century by Chris Morris was not enough to deny the Warriors as two late wickets by Jon-Jon Smuts sealed a dramatic 77-run Sunfoil Series win over the Multiply Titans at Buffalo Park in East London late on Sunday.

The Standard Bank Proteas all-rounder made 113 (184 balls, 20 fours), his maiden franchise cricket ton, as the visitors were bowled out for 248 – chasing 329 – deep into the final day.

Morris was bowled from the penultimate delivery of the fourth added over after the mandatory 15 final-hour overs had elapsed, with Tabraiz Shamsi (0) then bowled next ball as Smuts ended with three for 54 to fire his side top of the competition table.

Prior to Morris’ dismissal, the Titans looked set to seal a dramatic draw after battling their way back from 110 for seven shortly before tea.

It was one-way traffic before that in favour of the home side with Tladi Bokako (4/43) and Simon Harmer (3/89) weaving through the top order.

But Malusi Siboto (43) helped Morris add 79 for the eighth wicket and Junior Dala batted for 57 deliveries for his five, before the visitors finally caved.

Earlier, Colin Ackermann went on to record his 14th career century as the Warriors declared on 256 for five.

The right-hander smashed an unbeaten 125 (157 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) and put on 169 for the second wicket with Eddie Moore (76 off 179 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) to ensure the hosts gave themselves a victory chance.

Tabraiz Shamsi took an impressive five for 90, but it was not enough as the Titans slipped to a first loss of the season – one that saw them drop from first to fourth with two rounds of 2017/18 remaining.

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WARRIORS BOOK THEIR SPOT IN MODC FINAL

Half-centuries from captain JJ Smuts and openers Lesiba Ngoepe and Gihahn Cloete helped Warriors inflict an eight-wicket defeat on Multiply Titans at Supersport Park to book their spot in the final of the Momentum One-Day Cup.

Despite having topped the points table in the league round, Titans had to bow out after a meek surrender. Opting to field, the Warriors bowlers restricted them to a mere 230 before the top-three nearly polished off the chase amongst themselves.

Titans were off to a slow but steady start with the openers putting on a 47-run stand before calamity struck. Both opening batsmen fell in the space of four overs and even before they could recover, they lost Dean Elgar with the team’s score under 100. The team could never really recover from the quick wickets, and lost five more at regular intervals. All of Titans’ top five got starts, but neither could go past the 30-run mark.

Farhaan Behardien helped the side to a respectable total with his fifty. Coming in to bat at 115 for 4, he contributed a solid 57 off 67 balls to take his team past the 200-run mark. But no consistent support from the other end meant Titans fell short of reaching a challenging total. Behardien’s was the ninth wicket, and the last pair could add only nine more as Titans folded for 230 in 49.4 overs.

Warriors’ innings was in sharp contrast to that of Titans. Ngoepe (69) and Cloete (56) put on 115 runs for the opening partnership in little over 17 overs before the opposition could get a breakthrough. By then, however, the openers’ destructive hitting had ensured the match was well out of Titans’ grasp.

Ngoepe carried on, in the company of skipper Smuts, but couldn’t convert his half-century in a hundred. He fell for a 64-ball 69 that contained half a dozen hits to the fence and two over it. Smuts took charge then on, hammering an unbeaten 74 off just 60 deliveries to take his side over the line with more than 15 overs to spare. Smut’s unbeaten knock included 11 boundaries and a six. He hit the winning runs in the 35th over to send Titans packing.

 

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MULTIPLY TITANS BOOK HOME SEMI-FINAL

A key half-century by Farhaan Behardien helped the Multiply Titans book a home semi-final and possible final after they edged out the Hollywoodbets Dolphins by 29 runs in their Momentum One-Day Cup clash at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

The Standard Bank Proteas batsman struck 88 (80 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes) as the visitors recovered to reach 242 for eight after losing the toss and being put into bat first.

The hosts, however, let themselves down with some poor fielding that allowed the champions to score more runs than they should after they were reduced to 127 for five.

Mthokozesi Shezi picked up two for 39 and Imran Tahir bagged two for 40, although they could do little to prevent Behardien from shepherding the tail, which included stands of 55 with David Wiese (26) and 50 with Tabraiz Shamsi (15 not out).

The Dolphins made excellent progress early by reaching halfway at 134 for three thanks mainly to Sarel Erwee, who hit 76 (101 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes).

However, they then fell to 163 for seven within 10 overs as Albie Morkel (2/30), Corbin Bosch (2/34) and Shamsi (2/53) took two wickets apiece.

Despite Khaya Zondo hitting 36 not out, he lacked support as the home side fell to a crippling loss that severely dented their hopes of hosting a semi-final.

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KNIGHTS WELCOME TITANS TO KIMBERLEY

VBK Knights coach Nicky Boje and his Multiply Titans counterpart Mark Boucher are both content with the starts their sides have made to the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge competition but know they face a tough battle when they clash in round two at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Wednesday.

Both were eight-wicket winners when the tournament began over the weekend, with the hosts winning away at the Warriors in Port Elizabeth thanks to half-centuries from captain Theunis de Bruyn and David Miller.

The visitors thumped the Highveld Lions in the second match of a double header in Centurion where their skipper, Albie Morkel, and AB de Villiers were the stars.

“I’m pleased with the way the first outing went, the way the guys bowled and fielded,” Boje said. “The two experienced players there with the bat came through well to take us to the win, so all in all, it was a satisfying way to start.”

The four mentioned names are all international quality players and with all the Proteas available for the competition this season, Boje knows they face a tough task in the Northern Cape.

“The Titans are a quality side with quality throughout their squad,” he added.

“They have plenty of big names, but it’s not about that at the end of the day. It’s how you play in the match that counts. We’ll be going out there trying to make sure we do our basics right in a competition that is looking great with all the internationals playing.”

Boucher, meanwhile, will have been satisfied to have started the white-ball part of the season with a victory.

The defending champions were the only side among the three opening round winners to have triumphed with a bonus point, but their demanding coach wants more.

“It was good to start with a win, but I still thought we were a little bit rusty,” he said. “I don’t think we bowled particularly well and I don’t think we fielded particularly well.

“Obviously we have a strong batting line-up and I think it made the game look a lot easier than it actually was. So there’s a lot of areas I feel we can improve on going into Wednesday.”

Nine of the 11 players that turned out for the Titans on Sunday have international experience and Boucher is pleased that so many Proteas are part of the competition this year.

“I think the Proteas playing is going to raise the standard of cricket because it’s going to give a lot of the domestic players an opportunity they rarely have, which is to test themselves and sort of judge themselves as to how good they really are when they are up against a Proteas bowler or batter,” he concluded.

The two-time defending champs are further bolstered by the return of Dale Steyn on Wednesday.

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MARKRAM TO LEAD SA INVITATION XI AGAINST BANGLADESH

Multiply Titans  Aiden Markram will lead the South Africa Invitation XI to play Bangladesh in a three-day tour match at Sahara Park Willowmoore from 21 – 23 September 2017.

“We have chosen a squad consisting largely of CSA Academy players balanced by a few franchise players to provide the necessary experience,” commented CSA National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi.

SA Invitation XI squad: Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans, capt), Tladi Bokako (Warriors), Okuhle Cele (KZN), Matthew Christensen (EP), Michael Cohen (WP), Isaac Dikgale (North West), Zubayr Hamza (WSB Cape Cobras), Heinrich Klaasen (Multiply Titans), Migael Pretorius (Northerns), Yaseen Valli (Gauteng), Shaun von Berg (Multiply Titans), Lwandiswa Zuma (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)

Management team: Russell Domingo (head coach), Richard das Neves (assistant coach), Molebatsi Teletsane (physiotherapist), Nandile Tyali (fitness trainer), Abram Ndhlovu (video analyst)

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MULTIPLY TITANS WIN MOMENTUM ONE DAY CUP

Centuries from Multiply Titans’ openers Aiden Markram and Henry Davids handed Titans a 236 run victory over the Warriors in the final of the Momentum One Day Cup at SuperSport Park,  Centurion. A record opening stand of 212 propelled Titans to 425 for 5 – the highest total in the history of South African franchise cricket – before Warriors were bowled out in 31 overs.

Having elected to bat, Titans raced to 100 in 16.2 overs, as Markram picked up eight fours and two sixes to bring up his century off 96 balls. In the next 27 deliveries he faced, the 22-year-old cleared the boundary five more times and hit three more fours to bring up his second-highest score in the tournament (161), after his 183 against Lions in Johannesburg. Davids, who finished the competition as the leading run-scorer with 673 runs at 84.12, joined in the run-fest with a fluent 98-ball 114 – studded with 13 fours and four sixes – in what was his third century and sixth 50-plus knock in eight innings.

Once Warriors captain JJ Smuts broke the stand with Davids’ dismissal in the 30th over, wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen sustained the onslaught with a 50-ball 60, before Chris Morris plundered six sixes and a four to inflict a final burst with an unbeaten 47 off only 12 balls. Heino Kuhn and Morris added 52 for the sixth wicket in the final 2.2 overs, helping Titans post a total in excess of 400 for the third time this season.

Of the eight bowlers used by Warriors, Smuts was the only one to leak less than seven runs an over. Anrich Nortje took the bulk of the beating, conceding 62 in six overs despite having picked up two wickets.

The fate of Warriors’ massive chase depended heavily on strong starts from openers Smuts and Gihahn Cloete – the side’s top two scorers in the tournament. But an early strike from Morris (2 for 41) set them back, as he bowled Cloete (3) in the second over of the innings. Lungi Ngidi’s subsequent double-strike off successive overs accounted for Colin Ingram (1) and Smuts (13), reducing the opposition to 22 for 3 in the fifth over. While Warriors failed to recover thereon, only Jerry Nqolo (40) offered any resistance before falling to Markram (1 for 7), who was named the Player of the Match. Junior Dala further dented Warriors’ chances with two wickets, taking his tournament tally to 16. 

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TITANS SECURE HOME FINAL

An unbeaten half-century by Jonathan Vandiar paved the way for the Multiply Titans to conclude their Momentum One-Day Cup regular season with a comfortable eight-wicket win over the BuildNat Cape Cobras at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.

The left-hander made 72 (78 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) to help his team reach their 185-run victory target with almost 20 overs to spare. Vandiar’s effort came after the home bowlers shot out the visitors for 184 after winning the toss and opting to bowl first.

Aviwe Mgijima was the only batsmen to hit a half-century, holding the innings together thanks to his 52 (96 balls, 2 fours). There were also contributions of 42 from Dane Vilas and 39 by Dayyaan Galiem as the Cobras were bundled out in 44.5 overs.

All the bowlers shone for the Titans, the pick of them being Lungi Ngidi with his 2/20 in eight overs, with two apiece also for Junior Dala (2/33) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/53).

The reply was fluent one for the hosts, bar a hiccup, when the 100 was raised.

Aiden Markram helped Vandiar put on 75 for the first wicket, before Eddie Leie (3/54) removed the former for 49. The on-loan bizhub Highveld Lions spinner then took out Heino Kuhn (19) and Standard Bank Proteas captain AB de Villiers, who was caught and bowled for a second-ball duck, within the space of three deliveries.

That left the Titans on 100/3, but Farhaan Behardien and Vandiar put on 81 for the fourth wicket to ensure the home side won with ease – 111 balls to be precise.

 

 

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MOREKI DOUBLE STRIKE LEAVES COBRAS AND TITANS EVEN

Tshepo Moreki claimed two of the three late wickets to fall as the BuildNat Cape Cobras edged a weather-affected opening day of their Sunfoil Series clash against the Multiply Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday.

The fast bowler claimed 2/22 in six overs to leave the hosts on 114/3 after they won the toss and batted first in their round eight meeting.

Only 31 overs were possible after rain washed out two sessions, before bad light also played a part late in the evening

The hosts had dominated the opening passages of play once the game eventually got underway with Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar bossing proceedings during an 86-run opening stand.

Standard Bank Proteas opener Elgar top-scored with 43 and rookie Markram hit 32 before both were dismissed from successive Moreki deliveries in the 21st over.

Captain Henry Davids (10) then fell to Lizaad Williams with less than three overs remaining as the Cobras finished strongly.

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TITANS WIN THE T20 CHALLENGE 2016

Multiply Titans claimed a second successive T20 title and denied Warriors a first trophy in seven seasons by defending 156, despite losing their captain Albie Morkel to a hamstring injury in their first over in the field. Lungi Ngidi and Junior Dala both conceded under seven runs an over but the hero was Malusi Siboto who defended 12 off the final over to secure a tense win.

A penultimate over that was boundary-less and cost Dala just six runs set the tone for Siboto’s heroics but they were not without drama. He sent down a slower ball first delivery, then a dot ball, and then only three singles to all but guarantee Titans the win. However, with what should have been the final ball, Siboto bowled a leg-side wide to leave open the prospect of a Super Over deciding the tournament. But he finished on target to leave Warriors wondering how they had left it to their seventh-wicket pair of Lesiba Ngoepe and Sisanda Magala needing to score 31 off 22 balls.

The enormity of the occasion – Warriors last played in a final in the 2010-11 season – seemed to overwhelm them but they showed glimpses of breaking their drought. They pulled Titans back from 105 for 3 to restrict them to a below-par score at altitude but none of their senior batsmen could anchor the chase.

Warriors reply began tentatively when Clyde Fortuin hit the ball straight to Aiden Markram at backward point but Titans’ joy soon turned to worry. Morkel grabbed at his hamstring in pain as the wicket fell and could not complete the over.

David Wiese took over the captaincy and bowled the next over from Morkel’s end, with equal success. He had the leading run-scorer in the competition, Jon-Jon Smuts, caught behind and Warriors were in early trouble. Their malaise could have deepened when Ngidi appealed for a catch against Colin Ingram, who had yet to score, but umpire Allahudien Paleker turned him down. Ingram only faced another eight deliveries before Ngidi had the last laugh and Titans took the Powerplay honours with Warriors on 44 for 3.

Colin Ackermann and Christiaan Jonker got them back on track with a clinical attack on the Titans change bowlers. They were particularly severe on left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, whose first over cost 14, but he could have had both their wickets. After Ackermann hit Shamsi over the grass embankment for six, he skied another strike but Siboto put it down and conceded a run. Off the next ball, Jonker tried to flick and was caught by Junior Dala to put Titans back in it.

Ackermann shared in a 30-run fifth-wicket stand with Qaasim Adams, who is on loan from Titans and gave it to his old team with a feisty 17 off 16 balls. Before he could do any more damage, though, Shamsi removed him lbw with the last ball of his spell. The tale twisted even more when Ackermann holed out to Ngidi and all but ended Warriors’ challenge.

That would have come as relief to Titans, who should have scored more after their strong start. They put on 35 in the first four overs, which included two overs from Kyle Abbott who was selected ahead of the competition’s second-highest wicket-taker Andrew Birch, despite Birch’s 5 for 16 against the same opposition at the same ground in the group stage.

Warriors fought back when Basheeru Walters made the first breakthrough and two further blows left Titans 73 for 3 in the 10th over. Despite needing some firepower Titans did not send in their star batsman Farhaan Behardien immediately and tasked Heino Kuhn with partnering Morkel in the middle. Kuhn was run out in the 14th over, which sparked a mini-collapse. They lost three for 21, including Behardien, who was unable to provide a replay of his 14-ball fifty from the weekend, and Morkel, also run-out.

At 126 for 6, with 16 balls remaining, Titans were in danger of finishing well below par but Wiese took them to respectability. He plundered 16 runs in a 19-run final over that took Titans over 150 and, in the end, it proved enough.

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INGRAM STEERS WARRIORS TO T20 FINAL

Colin Ingram’s unbeaten 56 saw the Warriors qualify for their first T20 Challenge final in five seasons since the 2011-12 summer. The Warriors finished second in the league phase and beat the third-placed Lions in a playoff on a slow Port Elizabeth pitch to set up a meeting with the table-topping Multiply Titans on Friday.

The home side had their bowlers to thank for setting up a straightforward chase after the Lions squandered a strong start. They slipped from 77 for 2 at the halfway stage to add just 59 runs in the last 10 overs, in which they also lost four wickets for 10 runs. None of the Lions batsmen scored more than 32 runs.

Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks put on 30 in the first three overs but Kyle Abbott pulled them back with a strangling second over which exposed the Lions’ batsmen. They played as though they were at altitude but the big hits did not get over the boundary. Van der Dussen swung and missed, Temba Bavuma and Hendricks swung and holed out and it was up to the middle order to post a competitive total.

Mangaliso Mosehle looked likeliest to anchor the second-half of the innings but was bowled by Jon-Jon Smuts and that sparked the collapse. Nick van den Burgh went back to an Ingram delivery and missed the cut shot while Wiaan Mulder and Hardus Viljoen were dismissed in the space of three balls in the penultimate over to leave the Lions well short of a winning total.

Warriors paced their chase well and even though they lost Smuts in the third over and Clyde Fortuin as the Powerplay came to an end, they were in a strong position at 48 for 2. Ingram had only faced nine balls at that stage and was content to rotate strike and let his team-mates attack while he settled in.

None of the Lions’ attack was able to maintain the control needed to put pressure on the Warriors and Ingram bided his time until he was joined by Christiaan Jonker. With the right mix of aggression and caution, the pair put on 78 runs off 64 balls and eased the Warriors to victory with 10 balls to spare. Ingram’s fifty came off 43 balls and was his third of the tournament. Smuts continued to lead the run charts, 14 ahead of Farhaan Behardien, who he will go head-to-head against in the final.

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BEHARDIEN 55 TAKES TITANS INTO FINAL

Farhaan Behardien scored the fastest half-century in domestic 20 over history and the second quickest ever on South African soil as the Multiply Titans booked their ticket to the T20 Challenge final with a six-run win over the Warriors in a rain-affected fiver-over dash in East London on Sunday.

The Standard Bank Proteas batsman blazed 55 in a mere 15 balls (4 fours, 5 sixes) as the defending champions posted 80/2, before restricting their hosts to 74/2 in reply.

Rain had threatened to completely wash out proceedings at Buffalo Park in a match that was effectively a semi-final – the winner guaranteed top spot on the log and an automatic place in the final it would host next Friday.

But after the weather cleared enough for a five-over per side affair, the Warriors won the toss and chose to bowl first.

They kept things relatively quiet for the first two overs with the Titans on 11/2 at that stage. But Behardien then arrived and played a gem of an innings to put his side out of sight. His 50 was raised in only 14 balls, smashing the previous best domestic record of 19 balls, which was held by Martin van Jaarsveld, Albie Morkel, Andre Russell and Colin Ingram.

Jon-Jon Smuts and Sisanda Magala conceded 24 and 27 in their respective overs as the Titans were in complete control at the halfway stage.

Captain Smuts then hit 21 and Christiaan Jonker an unbeaten 26, but the scoreboard pressure and David Wiese’s outstanding fourth over, which went for only six, proved too much as they surrendered first position to the visitors.

The result meant the men from Eastern Cape dropped to second and must now play the bizhub Highveld Lions in a Qualifier in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday for the right to meet the Titans in Centurion for the title on Friday.

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VON BERG, MARKRAM TAKE TITANS TO VICTORY

Aiden Markram’s second successive hundred and legspinner Shaun von Berg’s ten-wicket match-haul lifted the Titans to first place in the Sunfoil Series, as they defeated the Cape Cobras by an innings and 50 runs at Newlands in Cape Town.

Cobras were reduced to 74 for 4 in the first innings after Titans captain Henry Davids put them in. Stiaan van Zyl (65), who was dropped from the South Africa Test squad for the tour of Australia, stitched together a 92-run partnership with Justin Ontong (45) to stabilise the innings. However, they lost 3 for 8 in a span of 8.1 overs, to be reduced to 174 for 7. The tail then managed to drag the score to 235, before von Berg took his fifth wicket to bowl them out.

Markram lost his opening partner Heino Kuhn with only 33 on the board, but put on 122 for the second wicket with Grant Mokoena (59) and 75 for the fourth with Farhaan Behardien (79) as he secured the lead for his team, before falling for 139. Qaasim Adams’ 58-run partnership for the seventh wicket with David Wiese (31) took the Titans to 393 for 7 before a collapse resulted in them folding for 400. Dane Piedt and Rory Kleinveldt took three wickets each for the Cobras.

In the second innings, only four Cobras batsmen managed to get into double figures. Van Zyl (32*) and Ontong (20) once again briefly rescued the innings with a 42-run sixth-wicket stand after coming together at 44 for 5. Von Berg, who had Ontong caught by Wiese for the second time in the match, completed his five-wicket haul shortly after. Henry Davids took the last two wickets as Cobras slumped to their third loss this season.

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MARKRAM & NGIDI CENTRAL TO TITANS’ INNINGS WIN

Multiply Titans surged to their first win of the season with a massive innings and 38-run victory over the Hollywood Bets Dolphins in Centurion, and they did it courtesy two franchise debutants. Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi were both making their maiden first-class appearances for the Titans and showed that the young talent in Centurion is blossoming.

Ngidi was first to the fore when he took four wickets in an opening spell that reduced the Dolphins to 61 for 4 in the 21st over. Senuran Muthusamy was the only Dolphins batsmen to show some fight and scored 52 but with no half-century stands, the Dolphins struggled to get over 200. They eked over the mark but not before Ngidi had picked up his fifth.

Markram was promoted to the franchise team in the absence of Dean Elgar, who has left on Test duty, and he was a perfect fit. He partnered Heino Kuhn in an opening stand of 203 and then put on 120 with Grant Mokoena for the second wicket while scoring 162 of his own. The Titans were well in the lead by the time Markram was dismissed with the Dolphins unable to make many inroads despite the return of Andile Phehlukwayo. Although none of the Titans bottom seven batsmen made more than 32, they batted into the third day and amassed 432, a lead of 225.

A worn-out Dolphins line-up up could not muster much resistance and by the time Ngidi bowled again, they were already three down. Khaya Zondo scored 68 but the Titans’ attack proved too strong for the rest. Wickets were shared all round with three each for Rowan Richards and Malusi Siboto while Ngigi added two for a match haul of seven.

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ACKERMANN SIGNS WITH LEICESTERSHIRE

Leicestershire have turned to South Africa to bolster their batting strength, signing batsman Colin Ackermann on a two-year contract.

The signing will encourage the belief that English counties are eager to raid South African players who suspect their chances of progression may be limited in their own country because of stiffened transformation policies.

Ackermann, a former South Africa U-19 international, will qualify as a non-overseas player. He has a first-class record approaching 40, the latest of seven hundreds coming for Warriors against the Multiply Titans last week. He also has 10 half-centuries in the two limited-overs formats.

Leicestershire’s head coach Pierre de Bruyn, a fellow South African, said: “Colin is a quality top order batsman who can also bowl some useful off-spin, and he will offer us a good option in all three formats of the game. He will provide us with further competition for places.”

Ackermann does have previous knowledge of Leicestershire, having represented Kibworth in 2012. He also played a Second XI match for Leicestershire that year, top-scoring with 73 in a low-scoring match against Northants.

Leicestershire have stabilised under the guidance of their chief executive Wasim Khan, a former chief executive of the Chance to Shine charity, which seeks to promote cricket in State schools. However, his specialist knowledge has – perhaps unsurprisingly considering the inevitable time lag – brought no overnight transformation in Leicestershire’s ability to produce players from a wider talent base.

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HARMER PUTS WARRIORS IN SIGHT OF VICTORY

 

 

Simon Harmer led a clinical bowling performance by the Warriors with his four wickets to put his team on course for victory against reigning Sunfoil Series champions the Multiply Titans at St George’s Park in East London on Thursday.

The home captain took 4/63 as the visitors were bowled out for 235 shortly before stumps, leaving them a victory target of just 105, which was down to 86 by the close after the hosts reached 19/0 in the two overs they faced.

Heinrich Klaasen was the key contributor for the visitors with an unbeaten 97 (146 balls, 10 fours, 2 sixes) – the Titans wicket-keeper rescuing his team from complete annihilation after they slipped to 108/8 at one stage.  But he found a willing partner in Morne Morkel, with the Proteas’ fast bowler, in the team to get some much-needed game-time ahead of South Africa’s tour of Australia, contributing 36 in a 100-run ninth-wicket stand.

Harmer’s wickets came in the middle and lower order after the top-order was damaged by Basheer Walters (2/46) and Andrew Birch (2/56).

Earlier in the day, two Morkel wickets helped clean up the Warriors’ tail as he ended with 3/54.

 

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BOUCHER APPOINTED AS MULTIPLY TITANS COACH

Mark Boucher has been appointed as coach of the Multiply Titans, winner of all three domestic titles the past two seasons. He will replace the successful Rob Walter, who recently left the Titans to join the Otago Volts as head coach.
Boucher’s Test career was terminated by default rather than by design as he was hit in the eye by a bail in a warm-up game on the tour to England in 2012. He was in the South African changing room for 14 years, representing the Proteas in 147 Tests and 295 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
As a wicket-keeper he finished with a world-class record of 532 catches and 23 stumpings and established a career as one of the finest glove-men in the recent history of the game.
Boucher loved the scrap, the heat of the battle. He lived for the big moments of the game. When the chips were down, Boucher was at his best.
It was evident in the second Test of his career when he established a world-record 195-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Pat Symcox at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.
Boucher was orthodox as a batsman, and could hold his own against any fast-bowling attack, striking 5 515 test runs at an average of 30.30.
He was a free-flowing batsman who could play shots all around the park, and he didn’t mind the hostile chin music. In fact, he would regularly hook or pull dismissively for four.
Boucher lost the lens, the iris and the pupil of his left eye in that freak accident that terminated his cricketing career in 2012.
Since then, he has launched a conservation project in conjunction with South African Breweries, which aims to raise funds to register rhinos on a national DNA database so that they can be tracked down if poached.
“I am stoked by the opportunity to get back into domestic cricket. Upon my retirement, I realised I would not be able to play the game any longer, but to be involved in the capacity as coach of a domestic power house like the Multiply Titans is thrilling,” said Boucher.

“I would like to fully utilise the opportunity to develop the skills of the Titans squad even more. Rob has left behind an enormous legacy, and it willd be big boots to fill.

“But my challenge is to leave my own footprint and to make a seamless transition in association with a mature and enormously determined group of stars,” he added.

“We are privileged to gain the experience and the astute leadership and knowledge of one of the legends of South Africa as our senior coach,” said Jacques Faul, chief executive of the Multiply Titans.
“We believe it is the perfect fit. We naturally play an explosive brand of cricket. Boucher never shirked his responsibilities in the eye of the storm. He believed that the best form of defence was to attack. And he did so on countless occasions when the circumstances demanded defiance,” said Faul.
“He will be an asset to the Titans and we are looking at Boucher to entrench our position as a domestic cricketing leader on and off the field.”

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