Cricket
Lions secure home T20 Challenge final─── MORGAN PIEK 09:06 Wed, 23 Oct 2024
“The bowlers set the tone, restricting the Titans to a good score for us, and then we were clinical with the bat to finish things off. So, we are happy with the performance and hopefully we can repeat it on Sunday.”
The Lions secured a home final in the CSA T20 Challenge with a convincing win against the Titans in Qualifier 1 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The Titans had a bat first in the Jukskei derby and were bowled for 115 runs in 19.2 overs. Dayyaan Galiem with 44 and Donovan Ferreira with 21 were the only Titans batters to trouble the scorers. The captain, Heinrich Klaasen, was the next-highest scorer with a mere 14.
The spinner Nqabayomzi Peter was the star with the ball for the defending champions with 4/15 in 3.2 overs, while the Proteas teenage sensation, Kwena Maphaka, took 3/11 in his 4 overs.
Reeza Hendricks. Photo: Lions
The former Knights batter, Hendricks, said the bowlers set the tone for the win and they will take a lot of confidence into the final.
In reply, the Proteas batter, Reeza Hendricks, scored 61 runs, and Rassie van der Dussen scored 40 as the Lions managed to chase down the target in just 16 overs.
‘Lions have advanced straight to the final’
Galliem enjoyed a good all-round day with 2/16 in his 4-overs, while Gerald Coetzee took 4/31.
The Lions have advanced straight to the final on Sunday, while their neighbours will get another opportunity when they play in the second Qualifier on Friday.
The Titans will face the winner between Wednesday night’s eliminator between the North West Dragons and Western Province which will be played at the Wanderers as well.
Kwena Maphaka. Photo: Lions
“We couldn’t really have asked for anything better tonight,” Hendricks said. “The bowlers set the tone, restricting the Titans to a good score for us, and then we were clinical with the bat to finish things off. So, we are happy with the performance and hopefully, we can repeat it on Sunday.
“It was a really good game for us after we had a bit of a stumble against Western Province last week, and hopefully we are peaking at the right time again. It gives us a great deal of confidence to beat this strong Titans outfit, but whoever we play on Sunday is going to come out firing against us.”
Wednesday’s Eliminator at the Bull Ring is scheduled to get underway at 18:00.
