The Titans scored the biggest total in South African List A history, as Aiden Markram’s 161 has left an uphill battle for the Warriors in the One Day Cup final.
The Titans have done it again. And without AB de Villiers, who was ruled out at the 11th hour with a back strain. For the third time they’ve passed the 400 mark, and it was the biggest yet. It leaves the Warriors needing to pull off the most unlikeliest of victories.
It was pure batting brilliance from Markram and Davids, but the Warriors have themselves to blame too. The bowlers bowled poor lengths, and numerous catches were dropped.
Markram was on 62 when Lesiba Ngoepe put down a simple chance on the boundary, but by that stage they were already on 177, thanks to Davids, who’s had the most outstanding season. He’s gone above Jon Jon Smuts in the run charts, and it was his third century of the campaign, surpassing Faf du Plessis’ franchise record 567 runs in 2010-11.
The partnership between Markram and Davids reached 212 inside 30 overs. Skipper Smuts would be the man to finally end the stand, as Ngoepe took his catch on the boundary this time to see Davids off for 114.
Heinrich Klaasen, the late replacement for De Villiers, and lacking in match practice after carrying the drinks for the Proteas in New Zealand, looked as fresh as ever and picked off the 1s and 2s with ease to reach his fourth List A half-century. He was dropped on 43 along the way, but he took advantage of his luck to finish with a 50-ball 60.
Before that, Markram reached his second 150 of the season. His first was the One Day Cup record 183, and he had a chance to get close to that once again, but he started to cramp up and eventually he skied one when he was on 161. Clearly, though, he’s no longer a talent for the future, but for the present.
That ended the 133-run stand between Markram and Klaasen, but more was to come. They have Chris Morris to thank for breaking the record, as he smashed six sixes in 12 balls to finish on 47 off just 12 balls, with 45 runs coming off the last two overs.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
