The Titans celebrated Freedom Day in style in Pretoria on Wednesday, with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the Warriors in the final of the Standard Bank Pro20 series.
A capacity crowd of 17 700 watched the match on a crisp autumn afternoon. The mood was set for a festive occasion when the umpires, accompanied by the Pro20 mascot Hardy, were flown in by helicopter. The home crowd were jubilant when Daryll Cullinan won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat.
The Warriors started reasonably well, with their first 50 coming up in the eighth over, and at 102 for four appeared set for a challenging total. But a spectacular collapse saw them bowled out for 121 with an over to spare.
Tyron Henderson blazed his way to 50 off 26 balls, including three fours and a six, but only Justin Kreusch (21), Burton de Wett (15) and Arno Jacobs (11) were able to reach double figures.
Zander de Bruyn took three wickets for 27 runs off his four overs, and Pierre de Bruyn took one for 19. The other wicket-takers were Dale Steyn and Alfonso Thomas, but four of the Warriors’ wickets fell as a result of run-outs. Justin Kemp was the most expensive bowler, conceding 27 runs off two overs.
The Titans got off to a cracking start, with their first 50 coming off 27 balls. Mfuneko Ngam went for 40 off his first two overs, and Alviro Petersen’s 50, including seven fours and three huge sixes, came off 29 balls. The introduction of the spinners brought the run rate down, but the Titans victory was never in doubt.
Gulam Bodi and Petersen put on 81 runs for the first wicket before Bodi was caught behind by Abongile Sodumo for 17. Cullinan, who was also caught by Sodumo off the bowling of Robin Peterson, made seven. His departure brought Justin Kemp to the crease, with the score on 98, and the Titans needing just 24 runs for victory.
The crowd roared their approval as their favourite strode to the crease, but no heroics were needed, and Kemp and Petersen were content to take the runs in singles. With just four runs needed, Kemp ran a single, and gave Petersen the chance to score the winning runs, which he did with an enormous six.
Man of the match Petersen was not out on 78 off 63 balls, Kemp was not out on 14, and the Titans won with three overs to spare. — Sapa