The DP World Lions and the Momentum Multiply Titans have been forced to wait a little longer before they can get their CSA 4-Day Series final encounter underway because of a wet outfield at the DP World Wanderers on Friday morning.
The two sides failed to get on the park due to the same reasons on the first day. Match officials will inspect the field at 12:10pm.
The encounter is a rematch of the CSA T20 Challenge final. The Lions romped to an eight-wicket win in that contest. The Dominic Hendricks-captained side will be looking to complete a double against their neighbours from across the Jukskei.
The Lions are also aiming to lift their second consecutive four-day title. In the 2023/24 season, Delano Potgieter scored a total of 236 runs to set them up for the title. He made 81 in the first innings and compiled an unbeaten 155 in the third innings as the Lions put up an unassailable score. Tshepo Moreki and Bjorn Fortuin took two five-wicket hauls in the match.
Day 2 | Latest Update
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) April 11, 2025
Early lunch to be taken at 11:30, with the next inspection at 12:10.
If the umpires are happy with the 12:10 inspection, then we will start at 13:00🏏👍#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi#SpiritOfChampions #4DaySeriesFinal#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/tzUY0EX2NY
Fortuin also starred in the Lions' victory earlier in the season. The bowling allrounder creamed a brilliant century and took three wickets in the 153-run win in the season opener.
Like last year, the Lions finished their campaign at the summit of the log. They won three of their seven games, drew another three, and suffered one washout. They are the only team that finished the group stage without suffering a loss.
"There’s a fair covering of grass on the wicket and I expect it to be a little on the slow side over the first couple of days, and then as the game goes on it should get slightly quicker. But I expect it to be sporting because it is the Wanderers," Dominic Hendricks, the Lions captain, shared.
The Gauteng side's batting has not been as outstanding as they would have liked. They registered only four centuries and two of them came off Bjorn Fortuin's bat. The other two came from Dominic Hendricks and Joshua Richards. Their most consistent batter has been Zubayr Hamza with five half-centuries.
The Lions owe much of their success to the incisiveness of their bowling attack. Codi Yusuf, Lutho Sipamla, and Tshepo Moreki have complemented each other well. The trio is most adroit in their home conditions. Moreki, Yusuf, and Sipamla have all taken 19 wickets apiece in the four-day competition this season, at low averages, which shows how well they have dovetailed as a unit.
The home side will need them to be at their best against a Titans batting unit that seems to be peaking in time for the final. Captain Neil Brand, wicketkeeper Rivaldo Moonsamy, Dewald Brevis, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius have had a good run in recent outings.
The Titans will need this trio to show up and for the rest of the batting order to support them on their hunt for the four-day title. Junior Dala has been brilliant with the ball and will need support from the rest of the bowling attack.
Dala will be leading a relatively inexperienced attack. The Titans are missing Matthew Boast due to a side strain. However, the visitors have Dayyaan Galiem's experience and also have handy replacements in Janco Smit and Lesego Kokohlabana.
LIONS: TBA
TITANS: TBA