Delport shines as Tuskers tear down Titans

Cameron Delport was on the rampage as he scythed his way to a 32nd T20 half-ton as he shepherded the Tuskers to a six-wicket win over the Multiply Titans in their CSA T20 Challenge match at Supersport Park, Centurion, on Sunday afternoon. The Titans put up 165 in their 20 overs and the Tuskers scored 166 for four in 17.4 overs

The victory over the Titans is the Tuskers' second win of the season, and like the previous one, it came in a match in the highveld.

Delport was a class apart as he creamed five fours and six sixes on his way to an imperious unbeaten 83 off 49 deliveries. The 34-year-old showed the world why he was one of the most sought-after T20 and T10 players on the circuit with an aggressive approach that left the Titans listless. Two of the three partnerships he shared yielded more than 50 runs each. They were the key to the Tuskers' successful chase.

The opener and Kagiso Rapulana gave the Tuskers the best start they could have liked. The duo was particularly severe on Lizaad Williams, from whom they tonked 39 runs in three Powerplay overs. Delport and Rapulana had compiled an unbeaten 63-run partnership at the end of the Powerplay. Four runs more than the Titans' brisk 59 in the first six overs.

Delport, the Tuskers' most experienced T20 player in the side with more T20 matches than the rest of the Tuskers' 11 combined, expertly managed the run chase for his team. His tempo was constant and he simultaneously brought up his 32nd T20 half-ton with the same shot that brought up Tuskers' 100 runs. It took him 34 deliveries to reach the milestone.

The Tuskers lost two wickets, Rapulana in the eighth over and Cameron Shekleton in the 12th over, before they deployed their star Keith Dudgeon. The hard-hitting allrounder smashed three sixes as he raced to 28 off 19. He was dismissed going for a boundary in an effort to close out the game quickly. But, Dudgeon's wicket was too little too late for the home side. Not even Lungi Ngidi's dismissal of Michael Erlank in the 18th over could save the Titans.

Earlier in the day, the Titans had been given a dream start by their opening pair of Lhuan-Dre Pretorius and Steve Stolk. The two 18-year-olds put a brisk 66-run opening stand in 7.2 overs and seemed to be setting the stage for the Titans to reach a huge total. While Stolk did not score much, Pretorius was in fantastic form as he brought up his maiden T20 half-century, a knock that could prove to be all-important for the Titans. The 18-year-old matric student carved 10 fours on his way to a brilliant 58 off 43 balls.

Stolk's dismissal brought Sibonelo Makhanya to the crease. The middle-order batter carried with him the form and confidence from his last two outings for the Titans. The middle-order batter scored back-to-back 50s, one of which carried the Titans to victory. Makhanya opened his account with consecutive boundaries. Titans' form player took the cue from Pretorius and Stolk and attacked the bowlers. He scored a quick-fire 28 (14) before holing out to the fielder at long-on.

Besides the trio of Pretorius, Stolk and Makhanya, no other Titans batter got going. Neil Brand scored a fighting 32 off 22, but it was not enough to push the Titans' score higher. And the primary reason for that was Kurtlyn Mannikan, who came in and controlled the middle overs with his spin. In the end, Mannikam was the standout bowler for the Tuskers. The 28-year-old came into the match with best-bowling figures of 2/17. He finished with new best-bowling figures of three wickets for 28 runs in four overs.

TITANS: Steve Stolk, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil BraDayyaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Aaron Phangiso, Lungi Ngidi, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi.

TUSKERS: Michael Erlank, Cameron Delport, Kagiso Rapulana, Thamsanqa Kumalo, Cameron Shekleton, Mbulelo Budaza, Malcolm Nofal, Keith Dudgeon, Alindile Mhletywa, Thando Ntini, Kurtlyn Mannikam