Titans victory keeps Knights at bottom of log

Heinrich Klaasen belted an impressive and much-needed half-century to rescue the Momentum Multiply Titans from 102-6 and help them post a competitive 151-6 before restricting the ITEC Knights to 124 all out to earn a 27-run victory in their CSA T20 Challenge match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Saturday.

Klaasen finished with an unbeaten 59 from 41 balls with four fours and a pair of sixes and found an unlikely ally in fast bowler Junior Dala who also struck four boundaries in his 27 not out from only 18 balls as the pair added an unbroken 49 for the seventh wicket.

The Knights, low on confidence after two opening losses, struggled from the outset as left arm spinner Aaron Phangiso (2-20) had opener Jacques Snyman (12) caught in the deep and bowled Raynard van Tonder for a struggling 18 from 21 balls.

Opener Patrick Kruger (8) was run out in comical fashion as both he and van Tonder attempted to make their ground at the same end.

Farhaan Behardien (31 from 27 balls) and Mangaliso Mosehle (18 from 10 balls) briefly threatened to keep the Knights in the game but when Behardien drove a return catch to fast bowler Lizaad Williams and Mosehle bowled by Ayabulela Gqamane the innings collapsed dramatically giving the Titans a straightforward win.

The Titans innings began shakily when Quinton de Kock (5) was fooled by a clever slower ball in Nealan van Heerden’s first over and spooned a catch to the infield and captain Theunis de Bruyn (0) edged his first delivery from the same bowler to leave the Titans wobbling on 12-2 at the end of the third over.

Dewald Brevis, on his professional debut and having just been bought for almost R6 million by Mumbai Indians in the IPL auction, was given a life before he had scored when Behardien dropped a catch at long on but was caught on the deep midwicket boundary off seamer Kruger having struck two fours and a straight six in his 23 from 25 balls.

Sibonelo Makhanya (5) sliced a delivery from the same bowler to short third man while Donavon Ferreira (12) played a straight ball from offspinner Jacques Snyman and was trapped lbw. Kruger was the pick of the attack with 2-18 from three overs.

ITEC KNIGHTS: Patrick Kruger, Raynard van Tonder, Jacques Snyman, Pite van Biljon (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Jason Raubenheimer, Migael Pretorius, Nealan van Heerden, Gregory Mahlokwana, Alfred Mothoa

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Quinton de Kock (wk), Dewald Brevis, Theunis de Bruyn (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donavon Ferreira, Ayabulela Gqamane, Junior Dala, Aaron Phangiso, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi