Titans 155/6
Warriors 149/6
Titans won by 6 runs
CENTURION – Nervous chants of “Ti-tans, Ti-tans” echoed around this most atmospheric of grounds, the braaing stopped, as had the drinking, and Malusi Siboto stepped up to bowl a last over in which he could concede no more than 12 runs.
Siboto – who came to the Titans at the start of the season via the Free State and, before that, Langa in Cape Town – had earlier dropped a sitter which would have seen the end of Colin Ackermann, and with it possibly a less tense finish than the one that eventuated.
He had to atone, and boy did he do so in the most composed fashion.
There was nothing fancy in that final over from Siboto – known as ‘Lolly’ to everyone on the domestic circuit. He just landed yorkers, ball after ball until the final one slipped down leg side and was called wide.
The tension returned – a six would tie the game for the Warriors, and ensure a super-over, but with the re-bowled last ball, Siboto went back to his friend the yorker and ended the game thus, with Warriors batsman Lesiba Ngoepe only able to squeeze the ball 5cm in front of him.
The Titans had retained their T20 Challenge crown in a bruising, tense and wonderfully exciting match. Siboto, booed earlier after dropping Ackermann, was cheered to the rafters at the end.
The Titans’ innings had earlier lacked the fluency of some of their batting performances earlier in the competition. Perhaps it was the occasion, perhaps the pitch, which was not a batting paradise like others at this venue.
The Warriors reckoned on bowling first, and did their job with discipline after a somewhat ragged start.
There was no rhythm to the Titans innings. Aiden Markram top-scored with 33, but his innings lacked the fluency he has shown on other occasions this season.
The much vaunted middle-order trio of Albie Morkel, Farhaan Behardien and David Wiese weren’t quite as prodigious as at other points in the competition, but Wiese’s unbeaten 24 off 15 balls proved crucial at the end of the innings.
Crucial was the damage he did in the final over when Sisanda Magala conceded 19, including a no-ball.
The Warriors’ chase too was ragged, with only a partnership of 48 for the fourth wicket between Christiaan Jonker and Ackermann providing any rhythm. But Lungi Ngidi’s dismissal of Ackermann in the 17th over was another vital turning point, just two balls after Qaasim Adams had been trapped lbw by Tabraiz Shamsi for 17.
Magala tried to atone for his final over, smashing a tremendous six over the cover boundary to bring the required runs down to 18 off 12.
Junior Dala bowled a fine penultimate over, going for just eight runs, before Siboto topped it off with that heroic effort at the last.