Shamsi bags hat-trick as Titans thrash Dolphins in T20 SF

A hat-trick from Proteas star spinner Tabraiz Shamsi helped set up a commanding 6-wicket win with 5.5 overs to spare for the Titans over the Dolphins in the first CSA T20 Challenge semi-final in Gqeberha on Friday. 

It is just the fifth hat-trick in the history of domestic T20 cricket in South Africa, and it came on day when the Titans bowling attack was all over the Dolphins batting line-up from start to finish. 

The Titans won the toss and put the Dolphins in to bat in overcast conditions, and the men from Durban simply never got out of the blocks. 

Lizaad Williams (1/13 in 4) set the tone while Junior Dala (2/21 in 3) and Aya Gqamane (2/20 in 3) were also impactful, but the killer blow came when Shamsi (3/15 in 4) had Ruan de Swardt (10), Bryce Parsens (0) and Andile Phehlukwayo (1) out in three successive deliveries. 

Khaya Zondo top-scored with 33 (33), but in the end the Dolphins could only muster 93/8 from their 20 overs. 

There was a glimmer of hope when Kerwin Mungroo (3/21 in 4) had Quinton de Kock bowled for a first-ball duck and when the Dolphins quick had Theunis de Bruyn out for 18, the Titans were 19/2. 

Dewald Brevis (38 off 30) became Mungroo's third, but there were never enough runs on the board for the Dolphins to ever truly be in the game. 

The Titans will not take on either the Boland Rocks or Western Province in Sunday's final.

Scores in brief:

Dolphins 93/8 (Zondo 33, Shamsi 3/15, Gqamane 2/20, Dala 2/21)

Titans 94/4 in 14.1 (Brevis 38, Makhanya 18* Mungroo 3/21)

Titans won by 6 wickets with 5.5 overs to spare