Titanic 5-day tussle for 4-day crown – sans Proteas

ARGUABLY the most challenging domestic season since the advent of the franchise system will conclude with a five-day final between the Dolphins and Titans for the 4-Day Franchise Series crown in Durban, starting today.

In a season in which the Covid19 pandemic wreaked havoc – in fact causing a pool game between the two finalists to be halted and then called off as a draw after one day’s play last December because a player contracted the virus – it is something of a miracle that the season is able to reach this kind of ending.

Indeed, the operations staff at

Cricket South Africa deserve credit for pushing through with a domestic schedule in the face of difficult circumstances – a lot of it not of CSA’s making – while dealing with the bitter disappointment of not being able to host a full international programme for the men’s Proteas team this summer.

In condemning the actions of CSA’s Members’ Council for not adopting the proposals for a change in the administrative structure, the players’ union, the SA Cricketers’ Association, praised the work of the operations staff in completing the domestic season.

“This has been achieved through collaborative work between CSA, Saca, CSA’s sponsors and broadcasters, and is evidence of what can be accomplished when stakeholders work together in the best interests of the game,” Saca chief executive Andrew Breetzke said.

Most of the four-day competition has been played with the Proteas present which will sadly not be the case for the final, with many going into a “bio-secure environment” ahead of the limited-overs series against Pakistan next month.

Both the Dolphins and the Titans have suffered major blows in that regard, with players missing who have been influential in helping them to qualify for the final.

In the case of the Dolphins, they are without Keshav Maharaj, who has been the major force that has driven them to the final.

Maharaj scored 167 runs, including two half-centuries, and picked up 21 wickets in the two matches the Dolphins have played this month.

“Not having Keshav does leave a big hole, and not just because of his leadership but also that he contributed so much with bat and ball,” said Dolphins captain Marques Ackermann.

The Titans, meanwhile, have “lost” seven players to national call-ups, including the influential Lizaad Williams and opener Aiden Markram, who came within 55 runs of 1 000 for the season but won’t add to his aggregate as he is in the “bubble” for the ODIs against

Pakistan.

“Aiden has been unbelievable for us this season, you can’t really replace that, he’s the best opener in South Africa at the moment,” said Titans skipper Grant Thomson.

But a final, especially one played over five days which very few players have experienced, will naturally raise the intensity among the players.

“Not having the Proteas doesn’t take hype away from the game,” said Ackerman. “We’re more excited to win this than ever before, it's our third final as a Dolphins team this season and it’s the biggest one.”

It’s also the last franchise game with domestic cricket switching back to a provincial structure next summer.