The Highveld Lions Cubs gave the Titans their first taste of defeat when the sides met in the final of the CSA Franchise Cubs Week in Stellenbosch on Sunday.
The young Lions won by 32 runs with 25 balls to spare.
Joshua Richards, Mitchell van Buuren and Muhammed Mayet scored 87, 64 and 51 respectively to get their side to 261-6 at the end of their 50 overs. Ruben Trumpelmann was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-48, while Beyers Swanepoel chipped in with 2-45.
The Titans’ reply was stifled by Kgaudisa Molefe who was outstanding with the ball, taking five wickets for 29 to restrict them to 229. Ruan de Swardt (70) and Joshua van Heerden (57) were the leading run scorers but could not get their side over the line.
At Stellenbosch University 3, the Dolphins trounced the Cape Cobras by nine wickets. Matthew Lees and Kamogelo Selane took nine wickets between them to skittle the home side out for 93 in 35.1 overs.
Lees was the chief destroyer, taking a remarkable 5-27, while Selane was outstanding with his 4-7. Only the opening pair of Gavin Kaplan (25) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (20) managed scores of 20 and above.
The Dolphins batting reply got off to a solid start thanks to a 60-run opening stand between Jivashen Pillay (31*) and Rahman Waseem (25) before Sisonke Mazele struck in the 14th over. Joel Veeran joined Pillay, hitting 18 from 19 deliveries to secure their side’s victory before the lunch interval.
In other matches, the Warriors claimed a clinical, eight-wicket win when they took on the South Africa under-17 Invitational side.
The Warriors bowlers, led by Jason Niemand (3-27) restricted the youngsters to 134 with four overs to spare after they elected to bat first. Mujaahid Toffar and Jean du Plessis made the most notable contributions with the bat, hitting a respective 42 and 33.
Once again, Jarryd Lookwhy (74) and Matthew Breetzke (52) set up the Warriors’ reply, hitting 116 for the first wicket and putting their side well on the way to victory. It took 28.2 overs to reach their target and to end their tournament on a high note.
Finally, the Knights claimed a comprehensive, 129-run victory over Zimbabwe. They set the neighbours a 319-run target thanks to half-centuries by CP Klijnhans (62), Raynard van Tonder (61) and Christopher Schreuder (53).
Klijnhans and Mason Zacharia took two wickets each to dismiss Zimbabwe for 189 runs in the end.
PHOTO: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
