Brilliant Hermann century helps Warriors set 180 target for Titans in Gqeberha

Dafabet Warriors opener Jordan Hermann scored a brilliant century and helped his side register a decent first innings total of 179 for five in their CSA T20 Challenge match against the Momentum Multiply Titans at Dafabet St George's Park Cricket Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.

Hermann scored a well-calculated 101 runs off 60 balls which included two sixes and 12 fours and also shared a fourth-wicket stand of 92 runs with Jean du Plessis after Titans captain Neil Brand elected to bat first on a flat surface at St George's Park.

Titans need 180 for a win but rain has delayed their chase.

Warriors got off to a bad start in their innings, losing opener Jiveshan Pillay (3) in the second over to Junior Dala after he flicked his shot straight to Dayyan Galiem, who was standing at backward square leg.

Hermann and JP King ensured there was no quick tumble of wickets for Warriors and helped them finish the first power play on 41 for one at a run rate of 7.00, looking set for a 140-run target.

Brand introduced the spin of Tabraiz Shamsi in the sixth over to pick up more wickets. The trick immediately worked as Shamsi bowled JP King for 17 runs, leaving the Warriors 45 for two.

Titans continued to bowl with discipline and made it hard for King and Hermann to get any easy boundaries. Warriors only managed to get two boundaries between the eighth and 12th overs.

Though King and Hermann were cramped for boundaries, their strike rotation was sublime and helped the Warriors pass the 100-run mark in the 14th over.

Hermann accelerated the Warriors' score and hit fast bowler Dala for an expensive 25 runs in the 15th over.

Brand turned to Shamsi to calm the Warriors' free flow of runs yet again. The change of pace immediately worked in the 16th over as he had Du Plessis (27) caught by Corbin Bosch at cover after skying his slog sweep.

The 22-year-old Hermann reached his second career T20 hundred in the 17th over in style with a four, his ton coming off 58 balls.

In the next over, Galiem removed the dangerous Hermann after he mistimed his shot to Lhuan-dre Pretorius who was at cover.

Sinethemba Qeshile had a short stay in the crease for his nine runs after he hit the wickets off the bowling of Bosch. Andile Makgakane (4) was run out by Bosch in the last ball of the innings.

Shamsi was the standout bowler for the Titans with figures of 2-23 at an economy rate of 5.75.

DAFABET WARRIORS: Jordan Hermann, Jiveshan Pillay, JP King, Jean du Plessis (wk), Sinethemba Qeshile, Andile Mokgakane, Patrick Kruger, Christopher King, Anrich Nortje, Siya Simetu (capt), Shimane Mothoa

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Rivaldo Moonsamy(wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Neil Brand (capt), Bongumusa Makhanya, Donovan Ferreira, Abdu Galiem, Andile Phehlukwayo, Corbin Bosch, Roelof van der Merwe, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi