A mature, old-fashioned ‘anchor’ innings of 90 from 134 balls by Keegan Petersen and a brilliant run-a-ball 61* by Duan Jansen saw the Momentum Multiply Titans beat the DP World Lions by three wickets to win the CSA One-Day Cup final in a thriller at the Wanderers on Sunday.
A spirited fightback saw the Titans restrict the Lions from a promising 147-2 to a modest total of 248-9 before slipping to 121-5 themselves but the same spirit with the bat helped them scramble home for a memorable victory with just one ball to spare.
Rassie van der Dussen anchored the Lions innings with a subdued 57 from 86 balls while Temba Bavuma struck four glorious sixes in a stylish 43 from just 42 balls but the home side lost 4-43 between overs 30 and 40 to slip to 178-6 entering the final 10 overs.
The Titans run-chase crashed to 0-2 in the first nine balls with Lesego Senokwane bowled by Beyers Swanepoel and Rivaldo Moonsamy driving Codi Yusuf straight to Bavuma at cover.
When Neil Brand (7) was bowled by another sizzler from Swanepoel the men in sky blue were a miserable 16-3 after seven overs but Petersen and Keagan Lion-Cachet (35) added 55 to steady the nerves. But rash drives and sliced catches to cover saw the end of the Titans ‘keeper and Andile Phehlukwayo (12) and trouble returned at 121-5.
But Petersen found an accomplished partner in Jansen who recorded his maiden List A half century dominating a stand of 78 before the twists and turns continued with Petersen slapping a Codi Yusuf delivery to Bavuma at backward point.
Daayaan Galiem played a fearless cameo of 21 from just 17 balls (2x4, 1x6) before Bavuma held another catch in the deep off Yusuf but the match was all but decided when Yusuf delivered a knee-high full toss with the final ball of the 49th over which Jansen deposited into the stand at deep midwicket leaving just five required from the final over.
Jansen and veteran Roelof van der Merwe resisted the temptation to finish in a blaze of glory and were happy to tip-toe to victory with singles.
Earlier Delano Potgieter produced yet another late rescue act with 33 to push the Lions total into defendable territory on a pitch offering pace, bounce and turn – something for all the bowlers.
The allrounder has been a consistent run-scorer in the lower order for the Lions and his 27-ball innings containing a four and two legside sixes looked for a long time likely to be the difference between the teams. It required a brilliant, diving catch in the deep by Neil Brand off Lizaad Williams to remove him in the final over.
Bavuma drove van der Merwe, fellow left arm spinner Brand and seamer Williams for remarkable off-side sixes and pulled Galiem (10-2-33-2) for a fourth before edging Galiem to ‘keeper Lion-Cachet while van der Merwe (7-0-32-2) trapped van der Dussen lbw on the sweep.
Williams removed Mitch van Buuren’s off stump with a beauty for 13, Beyers Swanepoel (6) drove Williams (10-0-49-3) to mid off and Richard Seletswane (8) did likewise, undone by a smart slower ball from Jansen who was good value at both ends of the innings before conceding 14 in his final over to finish with 1-53.
LIONS: Reeza Hendricks, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van er Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Mitchell van Buuren (wkt), Richard Seletswane, Delano Potgieter, Beyers Swanepoel, Bjorn Fortuin (captain), Codi Yusuf, Nqaba Peter
TITANS: Rivaldo Moonsamy (captain), Lesego Senokwane, Keegan Petersen, Neil Brand, Keagan Lion-Cachet (wkt), Duan Jansen, Dayyaan Galiem, Andile Phehlukwayo, Roelof van der Merwe, Junior Dala, Lizaad Williams