Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris has left the Highveld Lions to team up with the Titans.

Morris has made the short trip up north after a successful season with the Lions, as he helped the side from Johannesburg to win their first Sunfoil Series title in 15 years.

‘It was a tough decision but the right one. It was a really emotional day for me, but in life you have to move on and I think it’s the right time for me,’ Morris told EWN.

The 27-year-old who has played five ODIs and two T20 internationals, had a typically solid season, picking up 32 wickets in seven matches at an average of just over 20, finishing seventh on the wicket-taking charts. He also notched up two fifties with the bat.

Morris joins an already solid bowling unit boasting the likes of Marchant de Lange, Rowan Richards, Ethy Mbhalati and David Wiese, but Titans chief executive Jacques Faul is happy to have him on board.

‘I truly believe he is a good buy for us. He is a Pretoria boy and what I like most about him is that he is competitive in all formats of the game and a genuine all-rounder,’ said Faul.

Morris will aim to work his way back into the Proteas setup, last playing in the green and gold against Sri Lanka in July 2013.

‘It’s a very exciting time in my life. I wouldn’t have moved if I didn’t think it was going to improve my cricket,’ said Morris. ‘The worst was saying goodbye to the coaching staff. Geoff Toyana is not only my coach, but he’s one of my close friends.’

Lions coach Toyana was disappointed to see the back of him. ‘Morris leaving is going to be a big blow for us. Morris, [Hardus] Viljoen and Kagiso [Rabada] have been really good for us this season, and the wickets they took played a big role in our success,’ said Toyana.

In November 2014, Morris broke the record for the best ever figures in a T20 match when he got 2/2 from his four overs in the Lions’ win over the Cape Cobras. He will now look to set the standard for the Titans.