A superb century from Lhuan-dre Pretorius helped guide the Momentum Multiply Titans to a strong 235/5 batting first in their weather affected CSA One-Day Cup match against Goldrush Boland at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.
Two significant rain delays in the morning, both in the ninth over of the Titans innings, saw the game eventually reduced to 27-overs-a-side, and Pretorius’ 101 off 74 balls, featuring 12 fours and three sixes, was the highlight of their innings.
The Titans were on 42/0 when they resumed after the second rain delay and needed some positive batting to get them to a competitive total.
But they soon lost their first wicket in the 11th over, as opener Rivaldo Moonsamy was caught by Grant Roelfsen at deep midwicket off the bowling of Imran Manack, leaving them on 60/1/
That brought Keegan Petersen, 30 off 23 balls (2x4; 1x6) in to join Pretorius and they combined for a top 100-run partnership off 57 balls, taking their side past the 100 and 150 run marks to set them up nicely for a big score.
But Boland fought back well with a flurry of wickets to pull the game back and make sure they weren’t chasing a target out of their reach.
In an action packed 21st over the Titans passed 150, Pretorius reached his century in style, hitting Glenton Stuurman for a six over deep midwicket, but off the next ball popped a catch to Keith Dudgeon at short fine leg, with the score 160/2.
In the next over Manack had Petersen caught at deep square leg by Akhona Mnyaka, and in the following Mnyaka had Neil Brand (3) top edging to Dudgeon at short fine leg, as the Titans slipped to 167/4 in the 23rd over.
A cracking finish from the Titans then got them up over 230, as Keagan-Lion Cachet, 37no off 19 (5x4; 1x6), and Dayyaan Galiem, 28 off 14 (2x4; 2x6) shared in a 54-run fifth wicket stand, while 54 runs came off the last four overs.
Boland will be set a stiffer target to chase to win the match, as DLS will add some runs to the Titans score, as they started batting expecting a 50-over game.
MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy (capt), Keegan Petersen, Lesego Senokwane, Neil Brand, Dayyaan Galiem, Keagan-Lion Cachet, Duan Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Junior Dala, Tsepo Ndwandwa
GOLDRUSH BOLAND: Grant Roelofsen, Clyde Fortuin (wk, capt), Gavin Kaplan, Jhedli van Briesies, Ferisco Adams, Keith Dudgeon, Aviwe Mgijima, Lehan Botha, Akhona Mnyaka, Imran Manack, Glenton Stuurman