Rain dents Dragons and Titans' play-off chances

Rain had the final say at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Monday with the Momentum Multiply Titans on 139 for four with 17 balls left in the innings against the Auto Investments North-West Dragons in the second CSA T20 Challenge double-header.

Sibonelo Makhanya struck his second T20 fifty from just 36 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes before falling for 52 to the bowling of Ruan de Swardt (2-0-19-1), caught on the long-on fence by Senuran Muthusamy after the Dragons had won the toss and elected to field first.

Makhanya and Rivaldo Moonsamy (33) resurrected the innings after the early loss of Lhuan-dre Pretorius (11) and Steve Stolk (13). Pretorius struck two boundaries before edging Migael Pretorius (3-0-22-2) through to wicketkeeper Rubin Hermann. Pretorius then grabbed the wicket of Stolk, brilliantly caught in the covers by Lesiba Ngoepe after striking one four and a six.

Moonsamy, who struck four boundaries from 28 deliveries, shared in a third-wicket stand of 62 from 52 balls with Makhanya to set the Titans up for a challenging total. However, captain Muthusamy (4-0-29-1) finally broke the stand when he had Moonsamy caught by De Swardt on the long-on fence.

Makhanya continued on his merry way, sharing in a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket with Neil Brand from just 27 deliveries as the pair accelerated the scoring rate. But, in the over just before the rain came down, Makhanya launched De Swardt down the ground with Muthusamy judging his leap to perfection to snatch the ball out of the air.

Brand, struck one boundary and a six to walk off the field unbeaten on 25 from 14 balls with Dayyaan Galiem unbeaten on two.

The abandoned result sees both teams move to 13 points, six behind the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, however the Titans do have a game in hand over the Dragons and Dolphins. The Dragons will need to pick themselves up against the AET Tuskers on Wednesday in Potch while the Titans travel to the South-East coast to take on the table-topping Dafabet Warriors on Friday.

Auto Investments North West Dragons: Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Rubin Hermann, Raynard van Tonder, Wihan Lubbe, Lesiba Ngoepe, Senuran Muthusamy (capt), Ruaan De Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Irvin Modimokoane.

Momentum Multiply Titans: Steve Stolk, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil Brand, Dayyaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Aaron Phangiso (capt), Junior Dala, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi.