Lesiba Ngoepe of the North West Dragons.
Image: Backpagepix
The CSA 4-Day Series encounter between the Momentum Titans and North West Dragons was called a draw due to rain over Supersport Park in Centurion on Sunday afternoon. At lunch, the Dragons were on 174/1, leading by 56 runs in their second innings, and looked set to put up a target worth chasing for the Titans.
The weather disrupted play on all but the first day. Regardless, both teams appeared to be in good form.
Dragons' opening batsman Lesiba Ngoepe played a solid innings, scoring 84* (169 balls) and held the wicket until the end, with Raynard van Tonder on 59* (133 balls). Matthew Kleinveldt lost his wicket for 31 runs to a Merrick Brett delivery, which was caught by Neil Brand.
It was the only wicket the Dragons lost before Ngoepe and Van Tonder took control, pushing the Titans' bowlers around. Ngoepe looked confident at the crease and was well on his way to a century before the game was called.
Titan bowlers struggled to put pressure on the Dragons and break up the Ngoepe and Van Tonder partnership. On the previous day, the Titans declared on 463/9, leading by 118 runs going into the final day.
Dewald Brevis, 21-year-old, put up a destructive performance during the Titans' first innings, scoring 148 off 155 deliveries. Keegan Petersen also posted a century during the Titans' first innings, scoring 112 off 178 balls.
The draw leaves the Titans in second place in the standings after six matches, 14 points behind the Lions and 3 points ahead of the Dolphins. The Dragons, on the other hand, find themselves second from last with 64 points and have yet to win a game in this tournament.
Sunday’s result marked their third consecutive draw. The Lions and Dolphins are currently locked in battle, and the result from that match will likely change the standings once again. At tea on Sunday, the Lions trailed the Dolphins by 190 runs.