A magnificent 40 from just 25 balls by Titans allrounder Donovan Ferreira and a sixth wicket partnership of 63 with Dayyaan Galiem helped the Momentum Multiply Titans to a thrilling, four-wicket victory against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the final of the CSA T20 Challenge at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
A century stand between Keegan Petersen and Jon-Jon Smuts helped the Dolphins post a competitive total of 162-3 after choosing to bat first and they appeared well on course for victory when the Titans slipped to 98-5 in the 14th over in reply.
But Ferreira provided evidence of why the Jo’burg Super Kings paid R5.5million for him in the SA20 Auction with a pulsating counter-attack which included three fours and a six at critical moments in the final overs of the run-chase and, although he was run out with just two runs required in the final over, Galiem whipped the winning boundary through midwicket to secure victory with two balls to spare.
Galiem finished a wonderful game with bat and ball unbeaten on 32 from 22 balls with five fours.
Earlier the Dolphins lost the tournament’s leading run scorer, Grant Roelofsen, to the first ball of the innings when the prolific opener edged Aya Gqamane to ‘keeper Ferreira but Petersen (63) added with 115 with veteran Smuts (69) to put the innings emphatically back on track.
Petersen crafted six stylish fours abut showed he has a power game as well with two off-side sixes before miscuing an off-drive against left-arm spinner Neil Brand to Simon Harmer on the boundary having faced 51 deliveries for his 63.
Smuts inside-edged a leg-side heave against Galiem to Ferreira in a remarkable 19th over to depart for 69 from 50 balls with eight fours and a six, the over costing just a single run to stymy the anticipated acceleration. Smuts became the third fastest allrounder to complete the double of 4000 runs and 100 wickets T20 wickets behind Australian Shane Watson and the great Jacques Kallis.
Another allrounder, Jason Smith, played a brilliant cameo in the final over bowled by Junior Dala (4-0-45-0) driving and pulling a pair of sixes and a four to finish 21 not out from just seven balls. Galliem was the pick of the bowlers with 1-18 and, curiously, bowled just three overs.
Despite dominating the tournament and losing just a single group game the Titans stuttered in their pursuit of yet another trophy as Dewald Brevis (2) pulled his fifth delivery from fast bowler Daryn Dupavillon straight to Petersen on the deep midwicket boundary and fellow opener, Jiveshen Pillay (18) punched the same bowler off the back foot to Smuts at cover.
Captain Sibs Makhanya (13) struck a six and a four in his first five balls before pulling Smuts to Eathan Bosch on the midwicket boundary and Theunis de Bruyn, having seized control of the run-chase with a masterly 32 from 19 balls (2x4, 2x6) handed the initiative back with a rash drive to the same fielder.
When Neil Brand (18) was also caught on the long on boundary against Smuts (3-0-25-2) the Titans were in trouble at 98-5. But Ferreira and Galiem were not about to waste all the hard work leading up to the final and their calm but ferocious counter-assault resulted in a richly deserved victory.
The Dolphins’ defeat was compounded by an injury to Petersen in the field when he appeared to sustain a serious hamstring injury attempting to save a boundary and was stretchered from the field. The Proteas leave for a three-match test series against Australia in five weeks time.
DOLPHINS: Keegan Petersen, Grant Roelofsen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Tshepang Dithole, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Andile Simelane, Eathan Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen (captain), Daryn Dupavillon, Ottneil Baartman
TITANS: Dewald Brevis, Jiveshen Pillay, Theunis de Bruyn, Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil Brand, Donovan Ferreira, Dayyaan Galiem, Aya Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Junior Dala, Aaron Phangiso