A brilliant century from rising young talent Lhuan-dre Pretorius was not enough to save the Momentum Multiply Titans, with them bowled out for 225 in their first innings followed by World Sports Betting Western Province reaching the close of play on 86-2 in their CSA 4-Day Series clash at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday afternoon.
Pretorius was one of just five Titans batters to reach double figures, and one of two to score more than 21, as the visitors produced a top bowling and fielding performance to put themselves in the driving seat by the close of play.
Mihlali Mpongwana led the bowling effort with figures of 4-24 in 11.3 overs, while he was backed up well by Jody Lawrence, 3-49, and Mthiwekhaya Nabe, 2-39.
For Pretorius, it was just his second ever first class match and innings, and underscored his incredible talent as he made it back to back centuries, after he scored 120 on debut against the Warriors back in December.
A Century for Lhuan-dre Pretorius 💯
— Momentum Multiply Titans (@Titans_Cricket) March 20, 2025
He brings it up with 147 balls, 13 fours and 1 six. Keep rising 🩵#4DaySeries pic.twitter.com/CaqSWdtFXE
This time he managed 103 off 157 balls (13x4; 1x6) and it was 94-run fifth-wicket partnership with Rivaldo Moonsamy (46) that made sure the Titans were able to at least cross the 200-run mark.
At the start of play the hosts won the toss and chose to bat, getting off to a slow and steady start as Joshua van Heerden (21) and captain Neil Brand (18) shared 39 for the first wicket, before three wickets in 13 balls for just one run saw the hosts crash to 40-3 in the 17th over
Mpongwana made the breakthrough in the 15th over, having Brand caught behind by keeper Kyle Verreynne, Keegan Petersen was then trapped LBW for a seven-ball duck by Nabe in the next over, followed by Mpongwana having Van Heerden caught by David Bedingham.
That brought Pretorius in to join Dewald Brevis (16) and they tried to rally and take the Titans to lunch without further trouble, but having combined for a 30-run partnership, Brevis was pinned LBW by Lawrence in the penultimate over, leaving the Titans in trouble on 71-4 at the break.
The post lunch session was dominated by Pretorius and Moonsamy as they staged a strong fightback, taking their side past the 100 and 150 run marks, but just as they were looking to get themselves into a dominant position, Lawrence struck, catching Moonsamy off his own bowling, leaving them on 164-5.
That soon became 166-6 as new man Andile Phehlukwayo (1) edged Lawrence to Verreynne and Dayyaan Galiem (8) was run out on the stroke of tea, leaving the Titans on 195-7.
Matthew Boast (6) crucially stuck around at the start of the day’s final session with Pretorius, allowing him to reach his hundred, before the final three wickets fell for no runs.
Province then firmly took charge of the match thanks to a 76-run opening stand between Tony de Zorzi (46) and Daniel Smith (33).
But just before the close De Zorzi was bowled by Junior Dala, followed a few overs later by Smith edging Phehlukwayo to keeper Moonsamy, leaving Eddie Moore (1*) and Bedingham to resume on the second morning, with them trailing the Titans by 139 runs.
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Joshua van Heerden, Neil Brand (capt), Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Lhuand-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Junior Dala, Matthew Boast, Tsepo Ndwandwa
WSB WESTERN PROVINCE: Eddie Moore, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham, Daniel Smith, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), George Linde, Mihlali Mpongwana, Onke Nyaku, Mothiwekhaya Nabe, Jody Lawrence, Dane Paterson