That's all from this game! The Titans have started the CSA T20 Challenge 2021 with a win while the Knights need to improve going further. We have another game coming up which is between Dolphins and the Cape Cobras. That match will begin at 2.30 pm local (1230 GMT). Join us for that. Till then, cheers and take care.
Titans skipper, Heinrich Klaasen, who also is the BATSMAN OF THE MATCH, says that the luxury of being captain is the responsibility lies with him to win the game. Tells he started off slowly as he settled in and then got going. Klaasen says that the wicket looked decent and says initially he thought 180 would be a good score but how the things went ahead he felt 140 would be good enough on this wicket. Klaasen says that he was ready to take the risk with the bowling changes and tells with his strike bowlers setting a tone and getting a wicket early on gave him the freedom to take the risks and make the changes. Heinrich tells he was not looking for a bonus point but just to win and tells both he and Elgar are experienced players and just kept themselves calm.
Tabraiz Shamsi is the Bowler of the Match. He says that he is very happy with the performance. Adds that he had to make minor changes after seeing the surface and he did that. Goes onto say that his celebrations are much more simpler nowadays and he misses the crowd. States that it is sometimes about keeping the runs down. States that he tries to make an assessment of what he needs to do and the captain never interferes.
Earlier in the day, after opting to bat, Knights were going on strongly at 84/2 in 8 overs. But a huge collapse from there on saw them bundle out for a paltry score of 116. Tabraiz Shamsi was the chief wrecker and his 3 wickets from his quota of 4 was the major reason for the Knights' collapse. No such score was defended in a T20 at this ground and that record continued to stand as Knights could not do the unthinkable.
Defending 116 against a strong Titans side was always going to need a miracle. Migael Pretorious did give them that hope with his 3-fer in the opening spell. But that was the only hope they had as Pretorius did not get much support from the other end. No fault of the bowlers as they just did not have enough runs on the board to play with.
Chasing 117, Titans got off to a terrible start as they found themselves reeling at 7 for 3 inside the first three overs. It looked like Knights might have a sniff but that hope was squashed by the skipper, Heinrich Klaasen and the experienced Dean Elgar. With not much run rate pressure, the pair took their time to settle in and steadied the ship with a 76-run stand. Elgar could not see his side home but Klaasen saw off the game with a solid fifty along with Morris.
Not as easy as one expected it to be but still a comfortable chase for the Titans. No surprises in the tournament opener as the favorites have managed to get over the line.
Over 18
6
Heinrich Klaasen*
54 (40)
Chris Morris
21 (8)
Jacques Snyman
0/27 (3.1)
TIT
120/4
6
17.1
Jacques Snyman to Heinrich Klaasen ,SIX! That's all from this game! Brings up Klaasen's fifty as well! Tossed up on middle, Klaasen hammers it over long on for a biggie. THE TITANS WIN BY 6 WICKETS.
Over 17
4
wd
1
4
1
1
4
Chris Morris*
21 (8)
Heinrich Klaasen
48 (39)
Migael Pretorius
3/26 (4)
TIT
114/4
4
16.6
Migael Pretorius to Chris Morris ,EDGED AND FOUR! Just 3 needed now! Very full ball outside off, Morris looks to dig it out but gets an outside edge which goes past the keeper and the short third man fielder for a boundary.
1
16.5
Migael Pretorius to Heinrich Klaasen ,Good length ball on off, Heinrich drives it to long off for a single.
1
16.4
Migael Pretorius to Chris Morris ,Very full ball outside off, Morris drives it to deep cover for a single.
4
16.3
Migael Pretorius to Chris Morris ,EDGED AND FOUR! The Titans will play their shots now! Full ball outside off, Morris looks to heave it away but gets a top edge which goes over the short third man fielder for a boundary.
1
16.2
Migael Pretorius to Heinrich Klaasen ,Good length ball outside off, Klaasen pushes it to cover for a single.
wd
16.2
Migael Pretorius to Heinrich Klaasen ,WIDE! Very full ball outside off, Klaasen lets it go. Wided.
4
16.1
Migael Pretorius to Heinrich Klaasen ,Good length ball outside off, Klaasen looks to cut but it takes the outside edge and it goes past the short third man region for a boundary.
Over 16
1
2
1
4
6
0
Chris Morris*
12 (5)
Heinrich Klaasen
42 (36)
Shaun von Berg
0/36 (4)
TIT
98/4
0
15.6
Shaun von Berg to Chris Morris ,Tossed up on off, Chris defends it back to the bowler.
6
15.5
Shaun von Berg to Chris Morris ,SIX! Tossed up on middle, Morris hammers it over long off for a biggie. Excellent batting from Morris.