The Titans beat the Dolphins by two wickets to take pole position going into the final round of this season’s Sunfoil Series.
In what could go down as the defining match of the season, the Titans edged out the Dolphins by the skins of their teeth in a dramatic finish to the match in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
Needing just 91 runs to win after bowling out the Dolphins for 192, the hosts put on a spirited display as they almost pulled off the most unlikely of victories. Had the Dolphins done so it would have been them, not the Titans, to lead the way at the top of the standings. Instead the Titans have given themselves a fantastic chance to defend their title, holding a two point lead over the Knights going into their final match at home to the Warriors.
Prenelan Subrayen was almost the hero as he took 5-35 to leave the Titans needing 10 runs to win with two wickets in hand, but they can have Heinrich Klaasen to thank once again for steering them home, backing up his sensational 195 from the first innings with 35 in the second. The Dolphins will now need to beat the Cobras and hope other results go their way.
In Paarl meanwhile, the Cobras have also thrown themselves into the title mix with a brilliant comeback victory over the Knights. The Knights were leading the way going into the penultimate round of matches, but it will come down to maths to see if they stand a chance of winning the title. They will need to beat the Lions and rely on the Warriors to get something out of their clash against the Titans this coming weekend. The Cobras will need to beat the Dolphins, and hope the Titans and the Knights both lose their matches.
It would mark an incredible turnaround from new coach Ashwell Prince, who has won three of his four matches since taking over from Paul Adams. They were bowled out for 154 in their first innings, but fought back to skittle the Knights for 153, before a Stiaan van Zyl century took them to 330 in their second innings. Needing 332 for victory, skipper Dane Piedt took 6-87 to see the Knights fall 151 runs short.
Rain has put a halt on proceedings in the match between the Warriors and the Lions, with the Warriors needing 91 more runs to win, but with only three wickets in hand.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
