Friday saw the third consecutive loss for Western Province in the CSA T20 Challenge, as their inexperienced batting lineup led the Capetonians to their third loss.
In a contest when the overs were trimmed twice due to rain, the Northern Titans pulled together what appeared to be a respectable score, and then their bowlers dominated WP owing to a twin strike by Aya Gqamane in the first over.
Jiveshan Pillay again led the Titans in scoring with 37 runs off 24 balls, despite having to bat around two rain delays that shortened the game to originally 16 overs per side and then 13 overs per side.
The Western Province bowlers, led by the powerful left-arm seamer Nandre Burger, began with vigor. Burger, who was on the verge of national selection a few seasons ago but has struggled with injuries in recent years, made an excellent comeback on Friday, dismissing Dewald Brewis with a peach that swung back into the right-hander and smacked back middle stump.
He also dismissed Proteas Test captain Dean Elgar, who was playing in his debut encounter of the tournament, with a bouncer that Elgar top-edged, allowing Burger to take a simple catch in his follow-through.
Mihlali Mpongwana took two wickets, and the Titans were in danger of failing to reach 100. However, Donovan Ferreira performed admirably in his ‘finisher’ role, scoring 27 runs off 15 balls, including one of the strokes of the tournament thus far, a flat drive over extra cover for six.
Gqamane promptly punctured Western Province’s bubble when he trapped Kyle Verreyne leg before wicket and bowled their skipper, Tony de Zorzi, with the first two deliveries of their innings.
George Linde’s 36 runs off 29 balls was the sole glimmer of hope for WP, and when he was dismissed in the final over of the run chase, the Cape side’s hopes were destroyed.
Scorecard
Multiply Titans 108-7 (13 overs)
Six Gun Grill WP 95-8