Colin Ingram’s unbeaten 97 underpinned a solid Warriors victory over the Titans in the Momentum One Day Cup in East London on Sunday.
His was the majority contribution to an efficient innings, in which the top order established a platform, eventually ending on 285 which proved enough for a 14-run triumph.
Openers JJ Smuts (44) and Colin Ackermann (41) put on 85 in 14 overs, and despite a little stumble, when the Warriors lost two quick wickets, Ingram found willing assistants in Jerry Nqolo (31) and Christiaan Jonker (34) to ensure the home team were well placed at 263-6 after 43 overs.
Ingram’s innings was well measured, coming at just under a run a ball, with seven fours and a six. He simply ran out of partners three runs short of his 14th List A century.
The Warriors may have thought they were 20 runs shy, but the Titans failed to respond under sustained pressure. Lundi Mbani’s medium pacers made a valuable breakthrough in dismissing Henry Davids (30) and Grant Mokoena (0) in successive overs, leaving the Titans trailing at 64-3 after 13 overs.
Grant Thomson (79 off 87 balls) provided the anchor for the innings but despite the efforts of Mangaliso Mosehle (30) and Graeme van Buuren (52), promising partnerships were cut short regularly by Basheeru-Deen Walters (3-70) and Smuts (2-44).
For the Warriors, it was satisfying compensation for losing to the Lions by four runs on Friday, boosting them to second on the log, with 18 points, one behind the Cobras. The Titans, coming off a good win over the Knights, will see it as an opportunity missed as they slipped to fourth. All other teams have a game in hand.
