Persistent rain washed out the final Momentum One Day Cup group match, between the Titans and the Highveld Lions, in Centurion on Wednesday.
The rain first interrupted the match with the Titans on 118-2 after 25.3 overs. When the weather eventually cleared, the game was reduced to 35 overs a side, with the hosts finishing on a competitive 240-6. The Lions cruised to 74-1, before the match was halted once and for all after 10.1 overs.
The Lions were always going to finish second with a home semi-final against the Warriors secured, but it was a disappointing outcome for the Titans, who take the wooden spoon – a huge contrast to their fortunes in the other tournaments: they won the Ram Slam T20 Challenge and they currently top the Sunfoil Series standings.
The Titans, who were asked to bat first, were going along steadily, thanks to a blistering start from Aiden Markram, who struck 37 in 25 balls.
An injury to left-arm paceman Carmi le Roux early on bizzarely saw coach Geoffrey Toyana grace the field for a couple of overs, and was even needed to get involved as a ball went straight to him at mid-on, before reinforcements arrived.
Useful contributions then followed Markram’s departure, from Henry Davids (25), Grant Mokoena (37) and Dean Elgar (38).
The lethal blows came in the dying overs from Albie Morkel and Qaasim Adams. Morkel hit a nine-ball 21, before Adams smashed the fastest half-century in domestic List A cricket, coming from just 20 balls, in a knock that included five sixes and three fours.
In response, the Lions got off to a poor start as skipper Stephen Cook perished second ball, mistiming a pull shot straight to Elgar at mid-off. From there, however, they were looking good value to chase down the target, as Rassie van der Dussen (33) and Alviro Petersen (37) hit seven boundaries apiece.
That was until the rain fell once again. The Lions will be the happier of the two teams, who still have a home semi-final to look forward to next Wednesday.
