DAY 3: Western Province cruise to seven wicket win over Titans

Half centuries from Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham helped power World Sports Betting Western Province to a comfortable seven wicket win over the Momentum Multiply Titans in the final session of day three of their CSA 4-Day game at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday.

De Zorzi ended uneaten on 78 off 102 balls (7x4; 2x6), while Bedingham was out for 67 off 84 balls (6x4; 1x6), and it was their 123-run third wicket partnership that set them on their to the easy win.

It was a tightly fought contest over the first two days, with the Titans all out for 225 in their first innings, followed by Province replying with 250 all out, before the hosts reached the close of play on 108/4.

But once the visitors dismissed the hosts for 211 during day three’s morning session, setting them 187 to win, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Titans stop Province, which they were unable to do in the end.

Starting the post tea session on 127/2, Province only managed to add eight to the total before Matthew Boast made the breakthrough, bowling Bedingham, with the score on 138/3.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts as captain Kyle Verreynne (10no) joined De Zorzi and watched him reach a well deserved half century and then hit them to a comprehensive win with over a day to spare.

Earlier in the day in the post lunch session Province got off to a tough start in their chase when Junior Dala bowled Daniel Smith for a fifth ball duck and Boast bowled Eddie Moore, as the visitors slipped to 15/2 early in their chase.

But that brought Bedingham in to join De Zorzi, and he initially settled the nerves with some early boundaries in a mini counter-attack, before they settled in and eased their side to tea in a strong position.

In the morning session a superb counter-attacking half century from Dewald Brevis wasn’t enough to dig the Titans out of a hole and set Province a competitive target.

Brevis can however feel pretty hard done by after he fell for an entertaining 99 off 110 balls, having hit 16 fours and three sixes, as he valiantly tried to haul his team back into the contest.

The Titans resumed their second innings in the morning on 108/4, with Brevis unbeaten on 44, and he swiftly brought up his half century.

Nightwatchman Dala (17), stuck around for a bit, as they extended their fifth wicket partnership to 22, before he was first to fall on the day, edging Jody Larwrence to keeper Verreynne.

Rivaldo Moonsamy (1) lasted just two balls before Lawrence trapped him LBW, leaving the Titans in trouble on 130/6.

Brevis however found a willing partner in Andile Phehlukwayo (23) and they combined for a 60-run stand to stage a brief fightback heading towards lunch.

But Brevis then fell on his sword, edging Mthiwekhaya Nabe behind to Verreynne, which started a slide that saw the last four wickets tumble for 21 runs, with Phehlukwayo last man out.

Lawrence was the pick of the bowlers with solid figures of 4/39, while Onke Nyaku, 2/24, and Dane Paterson, 2/59, backed him up well.

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Joshua van Heerden, Neil Brand (capt), Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Lhuand-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Junior Dala, Matthew Boast, Tsepo Ndwandwa

WSB WESTERN PROVINCE: Eddie Moore, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham, Daniel Smith, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), George Linde, Mihlali Mpongwana, Onke Nyaku, Mothiwekhaya Nabe, Jody Lawrence, Dane Paterson