Port Elizabeth - The Warriors maintained their push for the 1 Day Cup play-off stages when they beat the Titans by 36 runs in a rain-affected match at St George’s Park here on Sunday.

Three rain interruptions eventually saw the Titans’ target of 238 re-adjusted to 223 to win in 42 overs but the visitors were bowled out for 186 with one ball remaining in the innings.

The win saw the Warriors move to the top of the competition standings with three matches to play in round-robin stages. They are ahead of the Cape Cobras by virtue of a superior net run-rate.

The Titans remained on nine points and face an uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals in their remaining four games.

Titans skipper Martin van Jaarsveld (31), Roelof van der Merwe (36) and Marchant de Lange (27 not out) fought manfully but were let down by the remainder of the batting order.

Seamer Rusty Theron was the best of the Warriors bowlers, claiming three wickets for 31 runs in nine overs.

Earlier, a record fourth-wicket partnership between Justin Kreusch and Craig Thyssen helped propel the Warriors to a competitive 237.

The pair came together with the Warriors, who had lost the toss, precariously placed at 18 for three, and they combined well to post 157 runs in 202 balls.

That effort eclipsed the Warriors' previous best for the fourth wicket of 129 made by Colin Ingram and Kreusch against the Knights in Bloemfontein last season.

Kreusch was eventually out for 79 caught by De Lange on the extra-cover boundary while trying to hit left-arm spinner Van der Merwe inside out. He struck nine fours in a 104-ball stay at the crease.

Thyssen was later dismissed for the same score when he clipped Rowan Richards into the safe hands of Henry Davids at square-leg.

He hit five fours and a six en route to a career-best in this format of the game. His previous best was an unbeaten 63 made against the Knights earlier this season.

Rowan Richards and De Lange were the most successful of the Titans bowlers on a slow pitch, picking up three wickets each, while Van Der Merwe claimed two.

Teams:

Warriors: Jon-Jon Smuts, Arno Jacobs, Colin Ingram (captain), Justin Kreusch, Craig Thyssen, Johan Botha, Wayne Parnell, Athi Dyili, Simon Harmer, Rusty Theron, Makhaya Ntini

Titans: Martin van Jaarsveld (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Marchant de Lange, Faf du Plessis, Heino Kuhn, Mangaliso Mosehle, Rowan Richards, Roelof van der Merwe, Hardus Viljoen, David Wiese.