Thanks to Henry Davids and Jonathan Vandiar, the Titans scored the highest total in South African List A cricket to beat the Cobras by 158 runs.
It was a record-breaking evening at Newlands for the Titans, who responded from their One Day Cup opening defeat to the Dolphins with one of the most emphatic wins in List A history. Not only was it the highest opening stand at Newlands and the best ever partnership for the Titans, but it obliterated the biggest total in South African domestic cricket.
This was all thanks to Henry Davids and Jonathan Vandiar. Davids blasted 163 off 132 balls, while Vandiar smashed a career-best 153 off 124 in a massive 313-run opening stand, which comfortably surpassed the 229 between Martin van Jaarsveld and Faf du Plessis against the Eagles in 2008-2009.
Both openers finally caved, with Davids falling halfway through the 43rd over and Vandiar falling on the first ball of the 44th. Lizaad Williams struck on both occasions.
Despite recent Proteas recruit Heinrich Klaasen not being present, the Titans had the resources to get them to the magical 400-mark. David Wiese (16 off 13), captain Albie Morkel (32 off 18), both contributed to their side’s total, but Williams struck again on the last ball of the 47th over to dismiss Morkel, followed by Tshepo Moreki who dismissed Wiese. Williams claimed his fourth by dismissing Kuhn and ending with career-best figures of 4-74. The visitors ending their innings on 400-5.
The Cobras lost wickets at a rapid rate, losing three wickets for 43 runs with 7.4 overs gone. If there was anyone who might have been able to get the Cobras close, it would have been Richard Levi, but he was crucially dismissed for 14 inside four overs.
Stiaan van Zyl was then run out by Malusi Siboto as the panic set in, and moments later he took a wicket of his own to dismiss Justin Ontong (4) in the eighth over.
David Vilas (88) joined Omphile Ramela (66) to give their side hope by putting up 131 for the fourth wicket to bring the hosts to 174-3, but they were stopped in their tracks by Von Berg who had a hand in Ramela’s run out by Kuhn on the last ball of the 23rd over. The leg-breaker struck for his second by bowling Jason Smith for three.
The Cobras found themselves struggling at 184-5 (24.6 overs) as wickets continued to tumble. Von Berg dismissed Vilas for his third, followed by Gregory Mahlokwana who clean bowled Aviwe Mgijima for a duck.
The target was starting to slip away from the hosts when Morne Morkel got his first wicket of the tournament to dismiss the Cobras captain, Dane Piedt, in the 29th over as they were restricted to 206-8 (28.2).
Rory Kleinveldt hit a quick 27 off 14, but Von Berg struck again, dismissing the all-rounder for his fourth wicket. Moreki (15) did well to stick around, but Morkel (2-52) found the edge of Williams to bundle out the hosts for 242 (34.5).
The Titans claimed a mammoth 158-run victory, which earned them a bonus point to go level with the Knights on five points.
Davids received the Man of the Match award for his incredible performance.
