Titans crush Western Province to register semifinal spot

Lhuan-Dre Pretorius scored a brilliant half-century to help the Multiply Titans register a comprehensive six-wicket bonus-point win over World Sports Betting Western Province in their CSA T20 Challenge match at WSB Newlands on Sunday.

The match was a virtual quarterfinal tie to decide who joined the Warriors, the Lions and the Dolphins in the semifinals.

The Titans nullified whatever advantage Kyle Verreynne had wanted to capitalise on after asking them to field first by putting on an excellent show with the ball. They restricted the home side to 113 for nine. They chased it down with 34 balls to spare. They cantered to 114 for four in 13.2 overs.

Pretorius carved three fours and four sixes as he batted Western Province out of the match. The 18-year-old registered his second T20 half-century, 52 off 32, to set his team up for a comfortable win. Unlike his fellow opener, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Pretorius did not have much trouble adapting to the slowish Newlands surface. He was seeing and timing the ball well. The teenager received the batter-of-the-match award for his efforts.

He shared a good 43-run partnership with Jack Lees that stabilised things after Moonsamy's dismissal. It was succeeded by a 42-run stand between Pretorius and Sibonelo Makhanya (24), that brought the visitors within touching distance of the finishing line.

CLASSY BOWLING PERFORMANCE

The Titans chased down a low total thanks to a classy showing by their bowlers. Their attack was on the mark from the first over. Proteas star Lungi Ngidi and new ball partner, David Wiese, snared two wickets for 15 runs in the first four overs. That start forced the hosts onto the back foot and they never recovered. Kyle Verreynne was the only Western Province batter who stood up to them, while the rest folded.

The Western Province captain came into the match on the back of having scored an unbeaten 77 in their last match. He carved three fours and three sixes on his way to an outstanding 48 off 31. His innings were curtailed by Junior Dala.

The pacer had a brilliant spell that blew away Western Province, which started with the dismissal of Verreynne. Dala took three quick wickets to reduce Western Province from 88 for four to 97 for seven. He finished the match with three wickets for 13 runs in four overs. He was named the bowler of the match for his performance.

Dala was supported by Corbin Bosch, who also bagged three wickets. The pacer finished with 3-21 in four overs. Tabraiz Shamsi and Lungi Ngidi bagged a wicket each.

WESTERN PROVINCE: Tony de Zorzi, Eddie Moore, Jono Bird, Kyle Verreynne (c), Valentine Kitime, George Linde, Juan James, Onke Nyaku, Kyle Simmonds, Beuran Hendricks, Wesley Bedja

TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Jack Lees, Sibonelo Makhanya, Neil Brand (c), David Wiese, Dayyaan Galiem, Corbin Bosch, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi