Highveld Lions speedster Charl Langeveldt weighed in with six wickets on Friday to put the brakes on the high-flying Titans in their Supersport Series match being played at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom.
The Lions, facing a first-innings deficit of 152 after they had bowled out the Titans for 282, started off encouragingly with Blake Snijman and Alviro Petersen putting on 73 for the first wicket, before Petersen (26) was caught off Pierre Joubert.
Then, to complicate matters, Albie Morkel struck twice in the space of two overs for 11 runs, claiming the wickets of Snijman, who struck a 110-ball 66 that included 13 fours, and Justin Ontong trapped in front.
Neil McKenzie on 14 and Vaughn van Jaarsveld on 18 consolidated the innings to take the home side to 175 for three at close of play with a slender lead of 25.
Earlier, the Titans resumed on their overnight score of 130 for four with Goolam Bodi on 42 and Albie Morkel on 51. They added just a single before Langeveldt trapped Bodi in the crease, without addition to his score.
Morkel was joined by his brother Morne, but the pair were unable to make any significant headway against some disciplined bowling.
Albie added just 11 runs to his overnight tally before being caught by Werner Coetsee off Claude Henderson, and Morne lasted just 10 balls before being castled by the aforesaid bowler.
The brothers’ departure brought together Farhaan Behardien and Alfonso Thomas, and together they amassed 93 runs for the eighth wicket.
Both batsmen eventually fell to Langeveldt for 59 and 54 respectively. Their dismissal saw an end to any further defiance.
Langeveldt finished with the credible figures of 28.3-3-48-6. — Sapa