The Titans jumped back to the top of the Standard Bank Cup table after stuttering to an exciting two-wicket win over the luckless Cape Cobras at Supersport Park on Sunday. The visitors now prop up the bottom of the log without a win in five outings.
Set a small target of 171, the Titans got off to a cautious start as Alan Dawson and Charl Willoughby maintained a disciplined line to subdue both Alviro Petersen and Goolam Bodi. Willoughby’s immaculate length and line was rewarded with the wickets of both openers and Martin van Jaarsveld as he bowled out his nine overs for a return of three for 21.
Ian Harvey then took over, taking one for 12 in a spell of seven overs. Left-arm spinner Con de Lange destroyed the middle order with three wickets in three overs to leave the Titans on 125 for seven after 36 overs. Johan Myburgh — who had been substituted for Monde Zondeki — kept his head and finished on a match-winning 59 not out as the Titans scraped home with six balls to spare in a game that could have gone either way.
The Cape Cobras had earlier also struggled to come to terms with the quick and bouncy Supersport Park pitch and were, after being asked to bat first, kept under pressure throughout their innings.
Losing four wickets for 71 in the first 20 overs did not help their cause, but JP Duminy (43) and Henry Davids (40) put on a near-match-winning partnership of 60 for the fifth wicket. Having done all the hard work, both were run out after just getting into the 40s. With the tail not contributing and 170 all out, the Cobras, against an in-form Titans team, looked to be completely out of the game. — Sapa