Morkel guides Titans to victory

Boland - Albie Morkel scored a priceless half-century to guide the Nashua Titans to a two-wicket victory over the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras at Boland Park on Saturday and to top place on the SuperSport Series log.

In the process Morkel scored his 4 000^th first-class run and was named SuperSport Series Player of the Match.

The Titans, set a victory target of 158, had looked down and out at 61/6 but Morkel found runs scoring a lot easier than anyone else, finishing unbeaten on 54 off 86 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Along the way he found useful partners in Tumelo Bodibe who helped add 53 for the seventh wicket and then CJ de Villiers who shared an unbroken stand of 38 for the ninth wicket.

Johann Louw (3/18) was the pick of the Cobras’ attack.

The Titans lead the Cobras by the narrowest of margins and there is still everything to play for in the last two rounds.

The Titans appear to have the easier run-in with an away fixture against the Chevrolet Warriors followed by a home game against the Sunfoil Dolphins while the Cobras face two of their title challengers – at home against the Chevrolet Knights and away to the bizhub Highveld Lions.

The Chevrolet Knights and the bizhub Highveld Lions, the other two teams in with a shout of winning the four-day title, were frustrated by the weather and the Knights will have to balance their declaration correctly on Sunday.

At the close of the third day they had reached 146/2 for an overall lead of 208 runs.

Both Reeza Hendricks and Boeta Dippenaar are well set and they will be looking for quick runs when play resumes.

The Sunfoil Dolphins are well placed for their first victory of the season after setting the Chevrolet Warriors a target of 386 runs and reducing them to 30/3 by the close.

This match saw a welcome return to form by two Proteas in the Dolphins’ second innings with David Miller making an unbeaten 71 (97 balls, 9 fours and a six) and Wayne Parnell taking 3/43.

Simon Harmer picked up a further three wickets in the Dolphins’ second innings to give him nine wickets in the match and 39 so far this season.

With the Warriors requiring a further 356 runs for victory and losing the key wicket of Ashwell Prince, the Dolphins will fancy their chances of a maiden victory.