Titans win third straight title
Chris Morris led a stellar bowling performance as the Titans stormed to a third successive RAM SLAM T20 Challenge title with a crushing seven-wicket win over the overawed Dolphins in the final at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Saturday night.
The Proteas all-rounder finished with four for 13 in 3.3 overs to help the hosts shoot out the visitors for a paltry 100 in 18.3 overs.
Malusi Siboto (2/10) and Lungi Ngidi (2/15) provided excellent support roles for the defending champions, before Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers played cameos of 39 and 27 respectively to take Mark Boucher’s side to an emphatic win with 53 balls to spare.
It was their third title in a row after they also won the 20-over competition back in 2015/16 and 2016/17.
However, the clinical manner in which they dismantled the Dolphins was hugely impressive.
Dubbed as favourites long before the regular season was even completed, they were almost on the money from the time captain Albie Morkel won the toss and elected to field first.
The first over by the skipper went for 11, but from there on it was one-way traffic as the Durbanites’ attempts to over-attack went horribly wrong.
They slipped to 28 for three inside the powerplay overs as key men Morne van Wyk (6), Vaughn van Jaarsveld (14) and Sarel Erwee (3) fell early.
REACTION: Head Coach Mark Boucher can't hide his smile as he celebrates his second consecutive #T20 title with the Multiply Titans #conquercricket pic.twitter.com/BMH9UqENEq
— The Titans (@Titans_Cricket) December 16, 2017
Dane Vilas tried his best to get them going, but he was cleaned up by Siboto and ended as the joint top-scorer with 21 alongside Andile Phehlukwayo – the Dolphins bundled out with nine deliveries still to spare.
With a modest total to defend, there was further bad news for the away side after Imran Tahir suffered a hand injury when batting which prevented him from bowling.
And De Kock rubbed more salt into the wound by clubbing two sixes and four fours in his 27-ball innings to give the Titans a flying start.
Once he fell, De Villiers bashed three sixes in his 13-ball vigil to lead the hosts to a one-sided win.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.