Titans crushed by Warriors

Pretoria -  Seemingly cruising to victory at 150 for 4, the Titans have collapsed to 210 all out to give the Warriors a 63 run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method in their One-Day Cup match at Centurion on Friday.

Set a revised target of 274 for victory, it was the unlikely intervention of JJ Smuts which spurred the Warriors to the win.

Smuts returned miserly figures of 2 for 17 in his five overs.

The slow-left arm bowler ended the innings of top scorer Heino Kuhn for 82 at the 27 over mark with the score on 150 for 5. Kuhn who had shared in a 53-run stand with Graeme van Buuren (42), misjudged a straight delivery from Smuts as he was trapped lbw.

The wicket, at the crucial stage of the innings, signalled collapse for the home side, as they were eventually bundled out for 210.

Smuts, though, was ably assisted by rest of the Warriors bowlers with Andrew Birch, Rusty Theron and Ayabulela Gqamane all picking up two wickets each.

Sent in to bat by the Titans, who won the toss and chose to field, the Warriors found themselves in heaps of trouble at 44 for 3 in the 11th over.

Titans right-arm quick Ethy Mbhalati removed both Smuts (8) and Ryan Bailey (6) to get the home side off to a good start.

Marchant de Lange dislodged opener Luthando Mnyanda to leave the Warriors struggling.

A 102-run partnership between Colin Ingram and captain Davy Jacobs helped the visitors to 146 after 31 overs. Ingram was taken by surprise by the home skipper Henry Davids, as he was clean bowled for a well-played 59.

Jacobs fell soon after in the 36th over for the same score of 59.

Rowan Richards had the beating of Jacobs as the Warriors number five was sent back to the changeroom.

Back in trouble at 164 for 5, it was the turn of Christiaan Jonker (49) and Simon Harmer (43) both scoring at faster than a run a ball which helped the visitors post a formidable total of 284 for 8 in their 50 overs, which would later prove a match-winning total.