The Titans cruised to a seven-wicket win over the defending champion Eagles in a Standard Bank Pro20 Series match at Supersport Park on Tuesday evening.
Having been set a target of 151 runs in 20 overs, the Titans scored the winning runs with four overs to spare as their entire top order chipped in with runs.
Alviro Petersen stroked seven fours and two sixes on his way to an undefeated 64 from 40 balls. Petersen and Albie Morkel, promoted up the order, added 75 for the first wicket in quick time, while Zander de Bruyn (24 from 17 balls) and Justin Kemp (20 off 10 deliveries) continued to score at an alarming rate.
Morkel weighed in with 36 runs from 27 balls with seven fours before he edged a wide Thandi Tshabalala delivery to the wicketkeeper.
The Titans gained a bonus point when Petersen thumped Johan van der Wath for a six off the final delivery of the 16th over.
Only Tshabalala made any inroads into the Titans batting order, picking up two wickets at a cost of only 26 runs.
After losing the toss and being sent into bat first, the Eagles lost captain Morne van Wyk in the third over to a Dale Steyn delivery.
The visitors, though, recovered somewhat through Jonathan Beukes (26 from 23 balls with four fours and a six) and Loots Bosman (a run-a-ball 19), who took the score to 51/1.
However, the loss of two wickets in two balls — both off the bowling of Alfonso Thomas — put a spanner in the works for the Bloemfontein-based franchise as they lost Beukes and Davey Jacobs in the eighth over.
At the death, Craig Thyssen hit a sublime 31 from 13 deliveries with three sixes and a four, while Cliff Deacon smashed an unbeaten 21 from 13 balls to ensure the Eagles reached 150/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Morkel and Thomas each grabbed two wickets. — Sapa