Tony de Zorzi starred with a ton, as the Titans claimed a 95-run bonus-point win against the Knights in Kimberley on Friday, while the Warriors beat the Dolphins in Durban by seven wickets.
The bottom-feeding Knights welcomed the table-topping Titans in Kimberley, in a battle between two great batting sides in conducive conditions.
The Titans’ innings was headlined by a century from 20-year-old opening batsman De Zorzi. The former SA U19 captain has struggled to find form across all formats, recording a top score of 37 for Northerns in his last nine matches.
He eliminated any doubt of his ability by smashing 103 off 128 balls (9×4, 1×6) to help his side to 235 before losing his wicket.
He formed part of two crucial partnerships – 85 with Heino Khun (45) and 84 with Rivaldo Moonsamy (33) – before he was run out, the Titans reduced to 235-3.
Heinrich Klaasen’s 73 off 47 (7×4, 2×6) blasted the Titans past the 300-run mark, supported by cameos from Farhaan Berhardien (17 off 8 balls) and David Wiese (28 off 14 balls), but all three lost their wickets in quick succession.
The Titans lost four wickets for as many runs in the final two overs as they were reduced to 309-8 in their innings.
The Knights had a decent start. After losing Rudi Second for 35, Grant Mokoena and Theunis de Bruyn paired up beautifully as Mokoena scored a useful 62 in a 65-run partnership before he lost his scalp to 23-year-old left-arm spinner Gregory Mahlokwana.
Mahlokwana struck again two balls later, David Miller smoking a floating delivery straight into the hands of Kuhn at short-extra cover for a duck.
At 135-3 after 24 overs, the Knights needed a handy knock from De Bruyn. The 25-year-old, though, was undone by an unnecessary run-out on 37, as the Knights crumbled.
A Tabraiz Shamsi double continued the collapse. The 27-year-old chinaman-bowler troubled the struggling opposition, dismissing Peter Kruger and Shadley van Schalkwyk for 2 apiece.
Wiese dismissed Diego Rosier on 22 and then dug into the tail by removing Duanne Olivier.
Mahlokwana (3-41) was the pick of the bowlers and took his third by removing Marchant de Lange for 16. Corbin Bosch wrapped things up to claim a bonus-point 95-run win.
Elsewhere, the Warriors cruised past the Dolphins‘ 207 to claim a seven-wicket win at Kingsmead. Andrew Birch (3-41) and Colin Ackermann (4-48) starred with the ball, before half-centuries from Yaseen Vallie (79) and Colin Ackermann (56) took the side home with five overs to spare.
Dolphins vs Warriors scorecard
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Image
