Farhaan Behardien led the way for an emphatic 58-run victory for the Titans over the Kevin Pietersen-boosted Dolphins in the CSA T20 Challenge.
In the first of a double-header in Bloemfontein, Behardien smashed an unbeaten 33-ball 65, which included four sixes and just one four in a late flurry as the Titans piled up 185-4. It was the Titans fourth successive win in the series.
Coming in at No 5, Behardien had been given a solid base by openers Jonathan Vandiar (40 off 33) and Grant Mokoena (25 off 26), who put on 61 in nine overs.
But it was Heino Kuhn and Behardien who ignited the afterburners as they smashed 93 runs together at more than 12 an over, taking the score from 89-3 to 182, when Kuhn was run out for 32 off 17 (4×4, 1×6) in the 20th over.
Knowing that Pietersen was warming up, a run rate of 9.25 was a fair offering. As it turned out, it was more than enough.
After losing an early wicket, the Dolphins looked as if they were up for the fight as Morne van Wyk and Pietersen put on 44 in seven overs, but the loss of both within three overs severely hampered their ambitions.
Van Wyk scored 41 off off 33 balls, while Pietersen, flitting between Durban and his commentating duties in Australia, was subdued in making 24 off 23 until he became a high-profile scalp for the young tyro Lungi Ngidi.
The precipitated a collapse in which leg-spinner Shaun von Berg took 3-11 in two overs as the Dolphins plunged to 94-6 in the 16th over. Game over.
Junior Dala, who set the ball rolling with the wicket of Cameron Delport for seven, cleaned up the tail to end with 3-30.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
