Lions win toss and bat first against Titans in T20 opener

The defending champion DP World Lions won the toss and chose to field first against the Momentum Multiply Titans in their T20 Challenge opening match at DP World Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday evening.

The Lions were in top form last season to top the log and go on to beat the Dolphins in the final, and they will be hoping to get their title defence off to a strong start against their Highveld rivals from across the Jukskei.

Last season the two sides battled out two thrilling games in the pool stage, both going the full 40 overs (20 each) as the Lions won by one run, and the Titans triumphed by two wickets off the last ball.

However the Lions comfortably won their semifinal clash by eight wickets, on their way to the title, and fans will likely hope to see another tight game this time, similar to last season’s pool stage clashes.

DP WORLD LIONS: Zubayr Hamza, Wandile Makwetu (wk), Muhammad Manack, Mitchell Van Buuren (c), Connor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Evan Jones, Codi Yusuf, Lutho Sipamla, Kwena Maphaka, Junaid Dawood

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Keegan Petersen (c), Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donovan Ferreira, Dayaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Roelof van der Merwe, Junior Dala, Tshepo Ndwandwa