Titans bolstered by Steyn return

TWO-TIME defending champs the Titans have been bolstered by the return of Dale Steyn for their Ram Slam T20 Challenge clash against the Knights in Kimberley today.

Knights coach Nicky Boje and Titans counterpart, Mark Boucher, are both content with the starts their sides have made to the T20 Challenge, but know they face a tough battle when they clash in round two at the Diamond Oval today.

Both were eight-wicket winners when the tournament began at the weekend, with the Knights winning away against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth thanks to half-centuries from captain Theunis de Bruyn and David Miller.

The Titans thumped the Highveld Lions in the second match of a double header in Centurion, where their skipper, Albie Morkel, and AB de Villiers were the stars.

Nine of the 11 players who turned out for the Titans on Sunday have international experience and Boucher is pleased that so many Proteas are part of the competition this year.

“I think the Proteas playing is going to raise the standard of cricket because it’s going to give a lot of the domestic players an opportunity they rarely have, which is to test themselves and sort of judge themselves as to how good they really are when they are up against a Protea bowler or batter,” he said. – ANA

Knights squad: Marchant de Lange, Andries Gous, Eddie Leie, Theunis de Bruyn (capt), Patrick Kruger, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Grant Mokoena, Tshepo Ntuli, Duanne Olivier, Keegan Petersen, Aubrey Swanepoel, Shadley van Schalkwyk.

Titans squad: Farhaan Behardien, Junior Dala, Henry Davids, Albie Morkel (capt), Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Malusi Siboto, Dale Steyn, David Wiese