Johannesburg — In the last 15 years, the Multiply Titans have won many competitions, but when they haven’t, it has ached, and it was one such failure last summer that fueled victory for the ‘Sky Blues’ at the start of the 2022/23 season.
The Titans were the most successful team at last year’s tournament in Gqeberha, leading the league table with six victories out of seven, but were defeated by the Boland Rocks in the championship match. Over the course of three weeks at Potchefstroom, they again topped the standings, lost only once, and reached the final. They insured that the agony they endured at St. George’s Park last season would not be repeated at JB Marks Oval on Saturday.
Titans captain Sibonelo Makhanya, who participated in last season’s campaign, stated, “It’s a sweet one.” The Titans defeated the HollywoodBets Dolphins by four wickets in the final over of a tense Division One championship match, claiming the first trophy of the season.
“It’s the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of candid conversations, a lot of failures last (season), reaching the final of this competition and losing. This is a humorous game, as it continually provides possibilities.
“Success is impossible without failure. The failures make the victories taste so much better; you appreciate it so much more and don’t take it for granted. These instances are uncommon. At the Titans, I am aware that players have won numerous trophies, but we will always cherish these moments and remember them for the rest of our careers.”
They were made to earn it by the Dolphins, who scored a competitive 162/3 due to half centuries from Keegan Petersen and Jon-Jon Smuts, who shared a second-wicket partnership of 115 runs.
Concerningly for the Proteas, Petersen was carried off the field on a stretcher after injured his hamstring when diving for a boundary stop. With only six weeks remaining until the commencement of the Test series in Australia, Petersen’s progress must be constantly observed when the Division One sides begin the Four Day Series on Thursday.
Even as the Proteas cope with yet another disheartening World Cup loss, the T20 Challenge shown that South African cricket has a great deal of depth.
Despite their failures in the final, Grant Roelofson and Dewald Brewis are brilliant players who, most importantly, score runs at very high rates.
Wiaan Mulder’s contributions for the Lions, along with his ball-handling ability, could make him a Proteas candidate once more. The middle order may be deficient.
Donavan Ferreira demonstrated why the Joburg Super Kings spent R5.5 million for his finishing abilities with a polished 40 off 25 balls, which, coupled with Dayyaan Galiem’s unbeaten 32 off 22 balls, helped the Titans win the final.
Boland’s Bamanye Xenxe finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 18, while Gerald Coetzee and Ottniel Baartman, although having an off day in the final, once again demonstrated their ability to take wickets.
TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Grant Roelofsen (KZN Hollywood Bets Dolphins)
Runs 333; Strike Rate: 132.66, 3×50. 10 catches, 4 stumblings.
Dewald Brevis (Multiply Northerns Titans)
Runs 327; Strike Rate: 176.75, 1×100, 1×50. Wickets 7, Rate of Return: 7.50
Theunis de Bruyn (Multiply Northerns Titans)
Runs 170; Strike Rate: 132.81
Jordan Hermann (Dafabet EP Warriors)
Runs 186; Strike Rate: 116.25, 2×50
Wiaan Mulder (DP World Gauteng Lions)
Runs 206; Strike Rate: 140.13, 2×50. Three Wickets, 7.21 Economic Rate
Donovan Ferreira (Multiply Northerns Titans)
155 runs; Strike Rate 168.47. 5 catches
Duan Jansen (North West Dragons)
137 runs; 185.13 strike rate; 4 wickets; 8.17 economy rate
Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Free State Knights)
85 runs; 207.31 strike rate; 13 wickets; 7.67 economy rate; 2×4-fer.
Aaron Phangiso (Multiply Northerns Titans)
12 wickets, 5.94 economy, 1 four-fer.
Ottniel Baartman (KZN Hollywood Bets Dolphins)
15 wickets, 7.40 economy, 1 five-fer.
Bamanye Xenxe (Gbets Boland Rocks)
18 wickets, 7.75 economy, 2×4-fer.