Titans grab victory in T20 Challenge

A CENTURY second-wicket stand between Theunis de Bruyn and Patrick Kruger was not enough as the Titans clawed their way back to beat the Knights by 10 runs in their T20 Challenge clash at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley yesterday.

The home-side pair put on 102, a record between the two teams, to leave their side on track in their pursuit of 169 to beat the defending champions.

But after captain De Bruyn fell for 47, there was little in terms of support from the rest of the Knights’ batsmen with the weight of expectation too much for Kruger to handle.

The Knights slumped from 127/3 in the 15th over to 158/6 by the close.

Kruger fell for an outstanding 79 (60 balls, 10 fours, one six) with no one else in the lineup reaching double figures.

Meanwhile, the Highveld Lions survived a late Robbie Frylinck assault to hold on for narrow six-run win over the Dolphins in their T20 Challenge outing at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

After amassing 175/5, the hosts looked on course for victory thanks to a fine spell of bowling by Bjorn Fortuin, who took 3/23 in four tight overs.

It left the visitors needing 67 from the final five overs with just four wickets still standing.

And, thanks to smashing 49 (20 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes), the Lions made it, with the Dolphins losing for the third time in six games.