Lungi Ngidi returned career-best figures as the Titans continued their superb start to the Ram Slam T20 Challenge season with a punishing 61-run bonus point win over the Warriors at Buffalo Park in East London on Friday.
The Proteas fast bowler claimed 4/14 in just 2.2 overs as the hosts lost six wickets for seven runs at one stage – first collapsing from 50 for none to 57 for six, before eventually being dispatched for 111 in 14.2 overs.
Aiden Markram was also among the wickets, claiming 3/21 in his four overs, having opened the bowling, while Tabraiz Shamsi ended with 2/25.
The Warriors had been chasing 173 thanks to another sensational batting recovery from the defending champions, who slipped to 9/2 after they lost the toss and were put into bat.
Without AB de Villiers, they began their recovery through bright young star Markram, who ended up top-scoring with 45 off 32 balls.
De Villiers’ replacement Elgar struck a more patient 34, but the flourish, as the Titans have so often become accustomed to, was provided by captain Albie Morkel and Farhaan Behardien, who blazed an unbeaten 43 off 24 balls.
The skipper was with him at the end not out on 33 – the pair having shared an 83 stand that came at over 10 to the over.
Jon-Jon Smuts (20) and Gihahn Cloete (32) provided the home side with a flying start of 50, before the wheels fell off.
Ngidi, who conceded all his 14 runs in his first over, removed Smuts and Colin Ackermann (0) within three balls, Shamsi struck twice in his next over and Markram followed suit, with the former returning to end the game with the first two balls of his third over.
The Titans moved to 14 points at the summit and remain the team everyone is chasing.
– African News Agency (ANA)
