The Titans and Dolphins remained unbeaten in the T20 Challenge after Day 3, with 3 and 2 wins respectively.
Lungi Ngidi bagged three wickets in a solid bowling performance that saw the Momentum Multiply Titans secure a second Betway T20 Challenge win in two when they ousted the Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras by 16 runs on the third day of the competition in Durban on Sunday.
The Proteas fast bowler finished with three for 18 from four overs and was offered fine support from Chris Morris (2/21) and Lizaad Williams (2/25) as the Cape side were dismissed for 132, chasing a victory target of 149 at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium.
Earlier it was Sibonelo Makhanya’s 47 that set the Titans up for what looked a modest total of 148 for six on another hot day in the coastal city, which is hosting the tournament in a bio-secure environment (BSE).
Mandla Mashimbyi’s side won the toss and opted to bat first but found scoring not too easy as Siyabonga Mahima (1/34), Corbin Bosch (1/24) and Imran Manack (1/16) initially maintained good control.
Dean Elgar managed 31 at the top of the order, before he became one of two victims for the impressive George Linde (2/23).
It was Makhanya, however, that did the bulk of the scoring, with the Titans adding 67 when he was in the middle, first alongside Elgar and then Heinrich Klaasen (7).
Dayyaan Galiem (20*) did manage to add some valuable late runs to leave the game in the balance at halfway.
But the Cobras’ chase never really got going, with the tone set from the outset when out-of-form Zubayr Hamza (5) fell to Ngidi in the third over.
Kyle Verreynne (2) was run out following a terrible mix-up with captain Tony de Zorzi, who managed 23, while Christiaan Jonker (16) and Jason Smith (20) both got starts.
It was not until Linde got going that the Cobras really began to believe – the all-rounder plundered Tabraiz Shamsi (1/46) for three successive sixes in the 17th over – with the equation reduced to 39 runs required from the last three overs.
Williams jolted their prospects with a double strike in the next over to all but end their hopes, with Morris then closing out the game-sealing a strong win for the Centurion-based team.
A 92-run opening partnership between Sarel Erwee and Keegan Petersen helped the Hollywoodbets Dolphins make it three wins from three to lead the Betway T20 Challenge after the third day of action thanks to a three-wicket victory on the Duckworth/Lewis Method over the Dafabet Warriors in Durban on Sunday.
Both men struck half-centuries, with left-hander Erwee blasting four huge sixes and two fours on his way to 52 off 37 balls, while right-hander Petersen recorded a more measured 58* (56 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) in what proved to be a relatively easy chase of 144 at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium.
Earlier, the Eastern Cape franchise had captain Sinethemba Qeshile to thank after he hit an unbeaten 47 off 38 deliveries after winning the toss and batting.
The Warriors just could not get going during their innings following another stellar performance with the ball by Keshav Maharaj, who returned figures of none for 12 in four overs, two of which were remarkably maidens.
