It took the Titans less than two hours on Sunday to move to a well-deserved, eight-wicket victory over the East Cape Warriors on the fourth morning of their Supersport Series cricket match.
Set only 86 to win late on Saturday, openers AB de Villiers and Alviro Petersen had taken the Titans to 17 without loss overnight.
However, both openers lost their wickets on the way to victory.
De Villers snicked one to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off a fired-up Brent Kops, and Petersen was leg-before to the same bowler.
But Martin van Jaarsveld and Zander de Bruyn stood firm and guided the visitors to their target.
The Titans take a hefty 19,06 points from the match.
”We’re very happy,” said jubilant Titans coach Dave Nosworthy after the match. ”Overall it was a very professional performance, especially by our bowlers.”
Talking about the success of wicketkeeper De Villiers, who scored his second century of the season for the Titans on Friday, Nosworthy said De Villiers is sure to go places, but he should not be rushed.
”He has got experience of Indian conditions,” Nosworthy pointed out, ”as he toured there last year with the South African Under-19 team.
”He’s got good hands and he is a brilliant all-round sportsman,” Nosworthy said, mentioning that De Villiers is also an excellent golfer and flyhalf at rugby.
Titans fast bowler Dale Steyn was named as man of the match. His career-best 5/30 in the Warriors’ first innings set the home team on the back foot on day one, and he finished with the impressive match figures of 9/96. — Sapa