The Momentum Multiply Titans crushed the Gbets Rocks by seven wickets and a massive 42 balls to spare in an emphatic CSA T20 Challenge victory at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday evening.
Sibonela Makhanya scored his third half century of the campaign to help the Titans to 124 for three in 13 overs in response to the Rocks’ 122 all out after Neil Brand had won the toss and asked Clyde Fortuin’s charges to take first strike.
Makhanya bludgeoned his way to an unbeaten fifty from only 25 deliveries, striking four boundaries and four maximums on his way to a man-of-the-match performance.
V I C T O R Y: We claim victory in front of a home crowd! Sibonelo Makhanya hit the winning runs to reach his 4th T20 half-century.
— Momentum Multiply Titans (@Titans_Cricket) April 12, 2024
Great stuff Men!#T20Challenge | #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/9o9dXKfz4e
Makhanya and Dayyaan Galiem (29) really sparked the Titans’ chase after a sluggish start.
The pair shared in an explosive 72-run stand for the third wicket from only 28 deliveries as both men took the Rocks’ attack to the cleaners.
Galiem, sent in ahead of Neil Brand and David Wiese, struck two fours and two sixes from just 11 balls before being brilliantly caught on the mid-wicket fence by Michael Copeland from the bowling of Glenton Stuurman (4-0-24-2) with just four runs remaining of the chase.
Sturrman and spinner Imran Manack (4-0-23-1) made things difficult for the home side with some good bowling in the power play.
Manack made the initial breakthrough, having Rivaldo Moonsamy (8) caught at short third man by Shaun von Berg.
Steve Stolk, moved down the order, lasted just three deliveries before being caught at extra cover by Adrian du Toit from the bowling of Stuurman.
However, with the Rocks having their tails up, Galiem and Makhanya broke the shackles, and put the result beyond doubt, also accelerating their side to a much needed bonus-point.
DOUBLE WICKET MAIDEN
Earlier, Fortuin struck three fours and four sixes in a blistering effort while the walls crumbled around him.
The Rocks captain faced just 24 balls for his 45 but when he was caught by Makhanya at extra-cover from the bowling of Brand (1-0-13-1), the Rocks found themselves at 56 for four.
Du Toit (0) was run out at the non-striker’s end without facing a ball with a direct throw by Moonsamy from backward point.
Von Berg (8), elevated up the order, struck just one six before being caught by Brand at mid-off from the bowling of Wiese (3-1-9-2).
Wiese picked up his second wicket in the same over – a double-wicket maiden – having Aviwe Mgijima playing onto his stumps without scoring.
Copeland (8) lasted just four balls while Ferisco Adams scored a single run in three deliveries.
Christiaan Jonker (4) was castled by Tabraiz Shamsi (3-0-16-1) before Hardus Viljoen (9) was caught on the deep point boundary by Stolk from the bowling of Lungi Ngidi (3-0-19-2).
Stuurman (20) and Manack (14) provided some brief respite to the tumble of wickets, adding 35 runs in 47 balls for the ninth wicket but then Stuurman holed out to Wiese at long-on from the bowling of Ngidi before Corbin Bosch (3.1-0-14-1) had Manack caught by Ngidi at short third man to end the innings.
INNINGS: The Rocks are 122 all out after 18.1 overs. Here's the bowling scorecard
— Momentum Multiply Titans (@Titans_Cricket) April 12, 2024
David Wiese 2-9
Lungi Ngidi 2-19
Junior Dala 2-32
Neil Brand 1-13
Corbin Bosch 1-14
Tabraiz Shamsi -116#T20Challenge | #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/Yjmncb1nKT
The win moves the Titans to 22 points, one point behind the World Sports Betting Western Province while the Rocks remain level at the foot of the table with the AET Tuckers on 11 points.
The Titans face off against the Tuskers on Sunday while the Rocks travel back to Paarl to take on the table-topping Dafabet Warriors, also on Sunday.
Momentum Multiply Titans: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Steve Stolk, Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil Brand (capt), David Wiese, Dayyaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Gbets Rocks: Clyde Fortuin (capt, wk), Adrian du Toit, Aviwe Mgijima, Michael Copeland, Christiaan Jonker, Ferisco Adams, Shaun von Berg, Hardus Viljoen, Imraan Manack, Glenton Stuurman, Akhona Mnyaka.