Captain Heinrich Klaasen lamented an inadequate bowling performance as the Titans slipped to an eight-wicket defeat in Wednesday’s One-Day Cup fixture at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom.

The Titans posted 309 for seven on the back of a fine century from opener Dean Elgar. He was complemented by half-centurion Chris Morris. The total was not enough, though, as fellow centurion Temba Bavuma spearheaded the Lions to triumph with three overs to spare.

The visitors arguably lacked a fifth frontline bowler as part-timers Elgar and Farhaan Behardien partnered with specialists Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Junior Dala and Tabraiz Shamsi.

‘Dean played unbelievably well. He took the attack to the bowlers in the end. He played on a different wicket to the rest of us, seemingly. Morris also gave us a good opportunity in the end, but 309 was still a par score,’ said Klaasen.

‘Coach Mark Boucher told us to keep the ball along the ground and avoid soft dismissals. We have put in a lot of work, but 309 was always going to be a par score – it was not enough.

‘We didn’t bowl particularly well, but that’s how the game goes – you can’t have it all your way. We managed to match them quite well at some stages – and I think Dean and Behardien did quite well with the ball.’

The Titans will be without Shamsi and Ngidi for Friday’s clash against the Cape Cobras at Newlands in Cape Town. The pair will soon join South Africa’s squad for March’s ODI series against Sri Lanka.

‘We will have to go back to the drawing board and have some discussions. We had almost two weeks off, but now have three games in quick succession. We won’t have Tabraiz and Lungi, so we are going to have some fresh faces that will come in.’

Photo: Gallo