Chris Morris’ 6-55 paved the way for the Titans to become the Sunfoil champions after a remarkable two-day match in which they beat the Knights by four wickets.
It was an incredible performance of T20-style batting and a heroic display by Morris, who, with the sterling support of Malusi Siboto (3-46) bowled out the Knights for 209. That left the Titans, who had spent the first two days of this match watching the rain come down in Centurion, with a target of 110.
Both teams were in with a shout when this final round of Sunfoil matches started, but they both needed a win. Both batted for 40 overs in the first innings, the difference being that the Knights scored 169-7, but the Titans scored 269-3 in a style of batting which brought them the Ram Slam title earlier this season.
A solid reply by the Knights in their second innings would have denied them, but Morris made his presence felt by taking the first two wickets without a run on the board.
David Miller (52) and Rudi Second (76) made a valiant attempt to hold back the tsunami, as did Ryan McLaren (36) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (29) lower down the order, but there was no stopping the momentum of Morris and Siboto.
You could not fault the effort of the Knights’ bowlers, who snapped up six wickets between them. But Heino Kuhn’s 43 off 51 balls, to go with his outstanding 86 off 82 in the first innings, broke the back of the chase and Farhaan Behardien’s 29 all but sealed it. Marchant de Lange ended with 3-40 and Duanne Olivier 2-18.
So the 16 points they gained for the win – just their second of the series – and the 6.38 bonus points, were enough to give them the title by 1.52 points after the Warriors drew with the Dolphins and the Cobras were denied by the Lions’ second innings batting.
At the start of the final round, the Warriors (128.04) led the race with the Cobras on 127.02, while the Knights (124.32) and the Titans (121.58) were in with a chance.
The Titans ended with 143.96 points and the Warriors 142.44 in a bizarre series, during which just seven wins were recorded in 30 matches.
Highveld Lions v Cape Cobras scorecard
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix 22.38
