The Titans took a giant leap forward to securing the Sunfoil Series title when they predictably beat the Warriors by eight wickets on Monday.
They had been left the task overnight of scoring 82 runs to wrap up the game, and despite a nervous start to the day, when rain prevented play in the first session, they were at last able to come out and knock off the runs in 13 overs.
Heino Kuhn led the way with 67 off 89 balls. In the process he took his run total this season to 944, the first to go past 900. He is well ahead of the next highest run-getter, Highveld Lions’ captain Stephen Cook, who has collected 720 runs.
The Lions, meanwhile, had a massive setback when no play was possible on the last day. Much time had been lost on previous days, with the Dolphins still to complete their first innings, 267 behind the Lions’ first offering of 516. They had started the match almost eight points behind the Titans, but the winning points put the Titans 17.58 ahead of the Lions who were able to reap only 8.58 in bonus points.
The Knights, meanwhile, pulled of a brilliant win against the Cobras, and re-entered the race for the title. They had been offered a target of 257 off 70 overs, and they took on the challenge to pull off a brilliant run-chase. And that was after losing their first three wickets for 60 runs.
Pite van Biljon, with a superb unbeaten 82, assumed command, getting good support from Letlotlo Sesele (45). But it was his 66-run fifth-wicket stand with Tumelo Bodibe (28) which set the tone. He and Van Biljon and Werner Coetsee (36) then hammered 61 runs for the sixth wicket off just 10 overs to take their team to the brink of victory.
The Titans and Lions meet next week at Centurion, while the Knights take on a Warriors team, who have yet to win a match, in Kimberley.
