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Moonsamy blitzes Titans to huge win over Tuskers

cricket14 April 2024 15:35| © MWP
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Rivaldo Moonsamy © Gallo Images

Momentum Multiply Titans opener Rivaldo Moonsamy smashed his way to a big half century to lead his side to a dominant eight-wicket bonus-point win over the AET Tuskers in their CSA T20 Challenge clash at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday afternoon.

Moonsamy powered his way to a career best unbeaten 90 off just 41 balls, crunching 11 fours and five sixes along the way, as he powered his team to 142/2 in 12.3 overs, in response to the Tuskers 141 all out batting first.

The Titans' chase got off to a flying start as Moonsamy and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 15 off eight (3x4), shared a 30-run opening stand in just 2.2 overs before Thando Ntini had the SA U19 star caught behind by keeper Cameron Shekleton.

New batter Jack Lees (9) didn’t last too long before Ntini bowled him, but with the score 53/2 in the fifth over the Titans were still rollicking along.

Moonsamy then finished the powerplay with a flourish as he smashed Mbulelo Budaza for three fours in a row, followed by two sixes to reach the quickest half century of this season’s competition so far, off just 18 balls, as 24 came off the over leaving the Titans well ahead of the rate on 77/2.

Moonsamy seemed to be suffering from cramp at this stage, which led to Sibonelo Makhanya, 21* off 18 (2x4), taking over the reins for the next few overs, as the opener hobbled around trying to work his cramp out.

Which he eventually managed as he took centre stage again to smash his team home in style, with his impressive unbeaten 89-run third-wicket partnership with Makhanya proving to be a match winning one.

TUSKERS BELOW PAR WITH THE BAT

At the start of play the Titans won the toss and chose to bowl first, with a solid bowling effort seeing the Tuskers all out for a below par 141 just two balls shy of their 20 overs.

David Wiese, 3-21, Dayyaan Galiem, 3-24, Lungi Ngidi, 2-12, and Corbin Bosch, 2-20, were all in top form to keep the Tuskers in check throughout their innings, as three wickets in the powerplay set the visitors back from the start.

Cameron Delport (8) was first to fall in the fourth over, caught by Tabraiz Shamsi off the bowling of Ngidi, and he was followed in the next by fellow opener Kagiso Rapulana (20), who looked decent in striking two sixes, before he was caught by Lees off Wiese, with the score 38/2.

In the final over of the powerplay Ngidi trapped Thamsanqa Khumalo (4) LBW, to reduce the Tuskers to 43/3 and put them in a spot of bother.

Shekleton (11) and Michael Erlank, 28 off 20 balls (1x4, 2x6), tried to revive the innings with a 38-run fourth-wicket stand, but another flurry of wickets stymied their progress.

First Shekleton was caught by Ngidi off Galiem in the 12th over leaving them on 81/4, before Wiese struck twice in the 13th, having Erlank caught behind by keeper Pretorius and then bowling Keith Dudgeon, 14 off six (2x4, 1x6), as the Tuskers slipped to 97/6.

Kyle Nipper (19) and Kurtlyn Mannikam (18) then combined for a valuable 38-run seventh-wicket stand, but both batters were bowled by Bosch in the penultimate over, and Galiem picked up the final two wickets in the 20th, as the last four wickets fell for just six runs.

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy, Jack Lees, Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil Brand (capt), David Wiese, Dayyaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

AET TUSKERS: Michael Erlank (capt), Kagiso Rapulana, Cameron Shekleton (wk), Keith Dudgeon, Thando Ntini, Mbulelo Budaza, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Cameron Delport, Kyle Nipper, Thamsanqa Khumalo, Mondli Khumalo

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