A fighting rearguard stand by Yaseen Vallie prevented the Titans from registering the first win of the Sunfoil Series.
After three rounds, only bonus points separate the sides, with the Titans holding top spot on 43.12, and the Cobras bringing up the rear on 33.38.
Vallie battled against 102 deliveries for his unbeaten 55. He was ably assisted by Sisanda Magala, who was last out on 29 off 57 balls, with the Warriors on 141-7, chasing 281 to win.
But it was a close-run thing. Inspired by AB de Villiers’ devastating attack on Sunday evening, in which he scored 32 off 26 balls, alongside Heinrich Klaasen (23 overnight), the Titans smashed their way to 220-6 declared in 44 overs.
They had been on 92-2 overnight, but AB went first ball of the day, lbw to the spin of Simon Harmer. Klaasen followed the following over, but Farhaan Behardien picked up the gauntlet to smash 96 runs in 22 overs with Henry Davids for the fifth wicket. Behardien was unbeaten on 59 off 75 balls (8×4, 1×6) when the declaration was sounded.
Migael Pretorius got the Titans to a cracking start, taking the wickets of Ed Moore and Colin Ackermann off successive balls, leaving the Warriors reeling at 4-2. Gihahn Cloete and Vallie attempted to anchor the innings, putting on 46 for the third wickets, but Malusi Siboto broke that partnership, bowling Cloete for 30.
Shaun von Berg and a quick double strike from Alfred Mothoa, who removed the dangerous middle order of Jon-Jon Smuts (9) and Simon Harmer (8), ripped the heart out of the batting line-up. Vallie was left to fight alone, until Magala came to his rescue.
The only other match offering hope of a positive result, that between the Cobras and the Knights, was called off without a ball bowled due to a wet outfield. The Dolphins-Highveld Lions match, which had lost a lot of time to rain, was similarly abandoned.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
