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Lions annihilate Titans

Centurion - Hardus Viljoen propelled the Highveld Lions to an emphatic 269-run victory in their Momentum One-Day Cup game against the Titans as he rocked the home side with a magnificent demonstration of raw pace at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The Lions scored 329 for six thanks to a superb 125 off 122 balls by their captain, Stephen Cook, including twelve fours and a six.

Cook featured in a 161-run partnership for the opening wicket with Gulam Bodi in 27.2 overs. Bodi hit 71 off 83 balls, with two fours and two sixes.

The 23-year old Viljoen then produced an excellent new-ball-spell by capturing 6-19 in nine overs as the hosts were dismissed for a paltry 60.

At one stage, they were on 34 for nine.

A flurry of boundaries by David Wiese, who scored 24 off 26 balls, helped them to save face to a degree.

Yet, their total is comfortably the lowest yet in a domestic limited-over competition.

Viljoen ripped through the top-order by removing Henry Davids for a duck in his first over and Pieter Malan for six in his second.

He bowled with tremendous pace, bounce and movement. Davids was bowled by a delivery that moved back off the seam and removed his off-stump.

Malan attempted an ambitious drive off a delivery that held its line at 147.2 kilometres per hour and was caught by Neil McKenzie for 6.

Chris Morris, Viljoen’s new-ball partner, bowled with good rhythm.

He got his reward when Mangaliso Mosehle tried to play a cut shot, but he holed out to Gulam Bodi on the third-man boundary for 3 to leave the Titans tottering on 19 for three.

Martin van Jaarsveld attempted to fight fire with fire, but he departed in similar fashion to Mosehle. The Titans captain attempted an upper cut and was caught on the third-man boundary by O’ Reilly off Viljoen for 10.

Viljoen kept the pressure on the batting side with intimidating and hostile bowling.

He had Farhaan Behardien caught at second slip by Zander de Bruyn for 1 when he sparred at a delivery just short of a length.

Roelof van der Merwe attempted to hit a lifter by Viljoen over point for maximum, but was caught at third man by O’ Reilly in similar fashion to Van Jaarsveld, for a duck.

With his departure, the Titans slipped to 21 for six.

O’Reilly’s double-strike in his first over compounded the Titans’ misery.

He trapped CJ de Villiers in front for eight and had Paul Harris caught behind with his next delivery for a duck as the Titans were reduced to 30 for eight.

Viljoen produced another ripper of a delivery that was edged by Ethy Mbhalati to McKenzie at second slip. He departed for a duck.

O’Reilly finished proceedings when he removed Rowan Richards with a yorker for 4.

O’Reilly captured 3-30 in 3.5 overs.

Wiese was the only batsman that emerged from the carnage with an air of respectability.

Earlier, the Titans won the toss and elected to bowl on a slow pitch.

The bowling attack lacked pace, penetration and discipline. Bodi and Cook benefited from a poor bowling display by Richards.

They used their wrists very well to manipulate the ball through the inner ring.

Cook was particularly forceful square of the wicket and raced to his fourth limited-over century off only 107 balls.

He proceeded to 125, a career-best for Cook in limited-overs competitions, before he was run out after a mix-up with McKenzie.

Bodi attempted a sweep shot off the left-arm spinner Harris and top-edged it to square leg, where Richards held on to a good catch.

After his departure, the Lions temporarily lost their way, as the visitors struggled to maintain their momentum. Quinton de Kock attempted to muscle a delivery by Ethy Mbhalati to midwicket and was caught by Mosehle for 19. Grant Mokoena was bowled by an excellent yorker from De Villiers for 6.

McKenzie attempted a rash shot over extra cover and was caught off Harris for 15, leaving the Lions on 255 for five.

But a late cameo by Jean Symes helped the Lions to regain their momentum. Symes scored 43 off 27 balls, with five fours and two sixes.

The final five overs produced 62 runs. Symes and Morris belted 25 runs in the final over, bowled by Richards. Symes was particularly effective on the leg side and carved his two sixes over mid-on and deep midwicket in the final over.

Mbhalati, with 1-38 in ten overs, was the pick of the attack.

Teams:

Titans: Martin van Jaarsveld (captain), Henry Davids, Pieter Malan, Mangaliso Mosehle, Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese, Roelof van der Merwe, CJ de Villiers, Rowan Richards, Ethy Mbhalati, Paul Harris

Highveld Lions: Stephen Cook (captain), Gulam Bodi,Quintus de Kock, Neil McKenzie, Zander de Bruyn, Jean Symes, Aaron Phangiso, Chris Morris, Hardus Viljoen, Ethan O’Reilly
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