The Northerns Titans claimed an emphatic 117-run victory over the Central Gauteng Lions in the opening match of the T20 Challenge on Friday.
Half-centuries from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Keegan Petersen and Donovan Ferreira propelled the visitors to a huge total of 258-6 at the Wanderers.
Pretorius, last season’s standout rookie, continued to impress with a blistering 82 off 43 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes. His 152-run partnership with captain Petersen (68 off 40) laid a solid foundation for the Titans, before Pretorius eventually fell to Kwena Maphaka (2-31).
Ferreira maintained the Titans’ dominance with an explosive 53 off just 19 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes.
Roelof van der Merwe (3-28) and Dayyaan Galiem (3-22) then tore through the Lions’ top order, reducing the hosts to 8-5 within the first three overs.
Despite Evan Jones’ 83 off 48 balls, and his 75-run partnership with Delano Potgieter (28), the Lions couldn’t recover.
Galiem’s return in the 14th over saw Potgieter dismissed, and Jones was run out in the final over to leave the Lions at 141-8.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
