Brevis blitzes Titans into CSA ODC playoffs

A brutal unbeaten half century from Dewald Brevis helped blitz the Momentum Multiply Titans to a seven-wicket bonus point win over the ITEC Knights at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Sunday and into the playoffs of the CSA One-Day Cup.

The Titans will now face either the Warriors or the Dolphins in the qualifier on Wednesday, for a place in the final against table topping Boland on Sunday.

After a century from Patrick Botha saved the Knights blushes and got them to 230 all out batting first, it wasn’t nearly enough in the end as a thoroughly entertaining assault from Brevis powered the visitors home with a monster 69 balls remaining.

Brevis launched seven sixes and eight fours in his unbeaten 83 off just 38 deliveries, and it was his 107-run fourth wicket partnership off 70 balls with Keegan Petersen (59no) that saw them cruise over the line easily.

It was however a tough start to the chase as the Knights made early inroads, reducing the Titans to 22/2 in the fifth over.

In-form opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius (4) chased a very short and wide delivery from Tiaan van Vuuren in the first over and ended up feathering an edge behind to keeper Dominic Hendricks.

Rivaldo Moonsamy (11), who has also been in top form having hit back-to-back centuries in their two previous games, whipped a ball from Van Vuuren off his pads straight to Dian Forrester at deep backward square leg a few overs later, to give the home side a glimmer of hope.

But that brought Petersen in to join captain Neil Brand (66) and they calmed things down with a 107-run third wicket stand, and Brand brought up a well-deserved half century.

If the Knights thought Brand’s wicket in the 28th over, caught by Botha off the bowling of Forrester, would open a door for them, they were sorely mistaken as it was immediately slammed shut by Brevis.

He absolutely dominated his century partnership with Petersen, who was basically a spectator, as they powered to a brilliant win and into the knockouts, while the Knights see their campaign come to an end.

In the first innings the Knights were grateful for a fantastic effort from Botha, as he struck an unbeaten 109 off 145 balls (9x4) to help his team get over the 200-run mark, which wouldn’t have been possible without his innings.

Forrester (42) also made a decent contribution, while Matthew Pollard (14) and Aaron Phangiso (11) were the only other batters to reach double figures, showing just how much they struggled during their innings.

At the start of play the Titans won the toss and chose to bowl, and got off to a great start as Galiem had Gerrit Snyman (1) edging to Petersen at first slip with the third ball of the match.

Junior Dala had Lesego Senokwana (3) well caught by a diving Galiem, followed by Hendricks (4) clipping Galiem to a diving Roelof van der Merwe at square leg, leaving the Knights in early trouble on 22/3 in the seventh over.

Botha and Seth Fledermaus (8) tried to revive the innings with a 30-run fourth wicket partnership, but Van Der Merwe had Fledermaus caught by Petersen in the 14th over as they slipped to 52/4.

That brought Forrester in and along with Botha they finally managed to settle things, as they shared in a positive 91-run stand as they took their side past 100 and towards 150.

Just as it was looking like they might kick on to a strong total, Schalk Engelbrecht made the breakthrough, having Forrester caught behind by keeper Pretorius, with the score 143/5 after 35 overs.

The rest of the innings was then about Botha batting on to his century, as he shared in partnerships of 26 with Phangiso and 31 with Pollard, allowing him to reach his second list a hundred with a single in the 48th over, while Malusi Siboto (2) was run out off the final ball of the innings.

Galiem, 3/38 in his 10 overs, was the pick of the Titans bowlers, while Dala with 2/41 in 10 backed him up well.

ITEC KNIGHTS: Jacques Snyman, Lasego Senokwane, Dominic Hendricks (wk), Dian Forrester, Tiaan van Vuuren, Patrick Botha, Seth Fledermaus, Aaron Phangiso, Matthew Pollard, Dane Piedt (capt), Malusi Siboto

TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy, Keegan Petersen, Neil Brand (capt), Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Roelof van der Merwe, Schalk Engelbrecht, Junior Dala