Makhanya leads Titans to tense victory

Skipper Sibs Makhanya struck a superb half-century to lead the Momentum Multiply Titans to a two-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare over the Hollywoodbets Dolphins at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.

Set 262 for victory, the Titans made life a little tough for themselves by losing wickets at regular intervals. But Makhanya’s 58 off 56 balls, as well as useful contributions from most of the batsmen, including the tail, enabled the Titans to win with a little to spare.

The Dolphins did remarkably well to recover from a near-disastrous 38 for five in the 12th over – largely thanks to an epic sixth-wicket partnership of 167 between Bradley Porteous (94) and Jason Smith (89) – to finally record a useful 261 for eight, but it was not enough.

The Titans made a cautious start to their run chase, with Neil Brand, in particular, struggling to hit the ball off the square as he struggled to 29 in 62 balls. His partner, Musa Twala, was quickly dismissed by Jon-Jon Smuts, the first of four wickets taken by the left-arm spinner as he finally finished with an impressive 4-48 in his 10 overs.

Dewald Brevis (32 in 28 balls) and Aiden Markram (31 in 36 balls) threatened but ultimately lost their wickets when they were on the verge of taking charge, and it was left to former Dolphin Makhanya – now twice the batsman he used to be in Durban – who charted the home team’s path to victory.

He struck five fours and a six in his exuberant innings before he thrashed Andile Phehlukwayo to Jason Smith at backward point when it looked as though the Titans would win with ease. His wicket, and that of Donavon Ferreira (18 in eight balls) and Corbin Bosch (caught and bowled by his brother Eathan for a run-a-ball 27) kept the Dolphins interested when the Titans really should have wrapped up the win earlier.

In the end victory was completed by Junior Dala (19*) and Aya Gqamane (26) as the Dolphins lost their third game in a row on the road.

Earlier, the Titans won the toss and inserted the Dolphins, and they must have been inwardly celebrating that decision when they reduced the paper-thin Dolphins’ top-order to 38 for five in the 12th over.

Paceman Junior Dala claimed two of the wickets, having openers Tshepang Dithole and Grant Roelofsen caught behind by wicketkeeper Musa Twala, while Jon-Jon Smuts was beaten for pace and bowled by Corbin Bosch for a duck.

The Dolphins did their share to help their opponents, however, with Roelofsen needlessly running out Ruan de Swardt, while Jason Smith did the same to Phehlukwayo.

Smith must have felt that he owed his team a favour, because he and Porteous knuckled down to the immense task that faced them with nearly 40 overs still to be bowled. While Smith played the anchor role, it was Porteous who took the attack to the Titans. Dolphins’ fans must wonder where Porteous has been hiding because he has been a breath of fresh air in the Dolphins’ middle-order, striking a superb century in a losing cause against Western Province two games previously.

The pugnacious right-hander is particularly strong on the leg side and a good number of his 10 fours and three sixes came on that side of the wicket, with sweeps, pulls and clips. Sadly, Porteous’s splendid knock came to an end six runs short of his century when he was run out – the third such dismissal in the innings – running a sharp single to the bowler’s end. His innings had spanned just 100 balls.

Smith didn’t last long after his partner’s dismissal, falling for a valuable 89 in 117 balls (7x4s), but skipper Prenelan Subrayen bashed a brisk cameo of 24 in nine balls, including three fours and a six, that pushed the total beyond the 250 mark.

For the Titans, Dala and Okuhle Cele claimed a couple of wickets each with Dala’s 2-39 in 10 overs being the best performance.

TITANS: Neil Brand, Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya (capt), Aiden Markram, Musa Twala (wk), Donavon Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Ayabulela Gqamane, Junior Dala, Aaron Phangiso, Okuhle Cele

DOLPHINS: Grant Roelofsen (wk), Tshepang Dithole, Jason Smith, Bradley Porteous, Ruan de Swardt, JJ Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Ottniel Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen (capt), Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane