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Cape Town - A career-best double hundred by Tony de Zorzi helped the Titans thwart the Cape Cobras and salvage a final day draw from their 4-Day Franchise Series encounter in Cape Town on Thursday.
The left-hander batted for just under nine hours and amassed an excellent 213 not out, facing 351 balls and striking 30 fours as well as a six as his side turned their innings deficit of 159 into a target of 301.
They then claimed four wickets at a cost of 154 but the hosts batted out a draw at Newlands.
It was a result that helped neither side in their pursuit of log leaders the Imperial Lions, who lost to the Hollywoodbets Dolphins to give the chasing pack hope.
But the Titans and Cobras could only cancel out each other with the pair earning just a solitary win between them after both completed their seventh round of fixtures this week.
There were plenty of positives for both, though, and none bigger than De Zorzi’s display for Mandla Mashimbyi’s side.
He started day four unbeaten on 114 and extended his overnight partnership with Farhaan Behardien (92 off 172 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) to a fine 192 for the fourth wicket.
De Zorzi then put on 117 for the fifth wicket alongside Dayyaan Galiem (53 off 78 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) before the declaration came with the score on 470 for five.
That left the Cobras a target of just over 300 and they found themselves in trouble early when Matthew Kleinveldt, (16), Simon Khomari (1) and Janneman Malan (16) were all sent packing with just 45 on the board – Ryan Cartwright (2/35) doing the early damage.
But Kyle Verreynne (72 off 100 balls, 14 fours) and Jason Smith (27) managed to steady the ship with a 57-run fourth-wicket stand that took the home side past 100.
Even though the all-rounder then fell, Aviwe Mgijima (19 not out) helped his young wicketkeeping team-mate take them to a draw.
- Cricket SA
