PORT ELIZABETH - Tabraiz Shamsi claimed the best-ever figures by a Titans bowler breaking Dale Steyn’s record from 12 years ago to help his team crush the Warriors by eight wickets on the final day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter on Thursday.
The Proteas spinner finished with an impeccable 8/32 in 16.2 overs as the hosts were emphatically blown away for 124 on the fourth morning – setting the visitors a meagre target of 63. They got there in nine overs at St George’s Park to move top of Pool B with a second win in as many games.
Shamsi was the star of the final two days with his career-best return leaving the Warriors in a spin. In the end his figures bettered Steyn’s return of 8/41 for the Titans against the Eagles that were recorded at Bloemfontein way back in 2007/08.
The home side began the last day on 97/six after being rocked on the penultimate evening by the spinner as they sought to build on their precarious 35-run lead.
But they lasted only 8.2 overs as Shamsi grabbed three of the final four wickets in the form of Mthiwekhaya Nabe (6), top-scorer Sinethemba Qeshile (28) and Stefan Tait (0).
The other wicket was claimed by Lizaad Williams, who ended with 1/48.
The Titans received a minor scare at the start of the chase when Nabe (2/27) got rid of Dean Elgar for a rare duck followed by Theunis de Bruyn for 13.
But Heinrich Klaasen (20) and Aiden Markram (19) settled the nerves, before quickly chasing down the runs to seal another big win.
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