Titans finally show fight as season hangs in the balance

The Titans fought hard on the opening day of the Cricket South Africa Four-Day Series against the Dolphins at SuperSport Park, as they look to save their season after a dismal first half of the campaign.

It came as a shock when the Titans found themselves with four losses from four matches in the opening half of the CSA Four-Day Series. Week in and week out, they were under the pump as teams around the country made light work of last season’s runners-up.

After going without a victory in the first half of the Four-Day Series, the Titans then endured another disappointing campaign in the CSA T20 Challenge, winning only two of their seven matches and failing to reach the playoffs of a competition in which they finished as runners-up last season.

When Day One of the second half of the Four-Day Series got underway countrywide on Tuesday, all eyes were on the Titans. Many were keen to see whether coach Rivash Gobind’s team could summon a spirited comeback, as they are staring at relegation given their dismal start to the season.

In Centurion, fast bowler Janco Smit led from the front, picking up three wickets alongside left-arm quick Duan Jansen, who also took a three-for, as the Titans reduced the Dolphins to 88/8 in 32.5 overs. Though the match is far from finished, the Titans’ performance on Tuesday is what many would have expected.

After all, the Titans are arguably the most decorated team in South African domestic cricket. In their defence, the Centurion-based team has been without many of their stars, including Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Dewald Brevis, who carried the side throughout last season. This year, however, several of their key players have been on national duty, whether with the Proteas Men’s side or the South Africa ‘A’ team.

In the ongoing fixture, the Titans have been boosted by the availability of Proteas spinner Simon Harmer and Pretorius.

In other fixtures around the country, the Lions are in the driving seat at home against Boland. Zubayr Hamza (66 not out) has returned from national duty and led from the front at the Wanderers, helping the hosts reach 132/5 at stumps.

In Potchefstroom, Warriors fast bowler Matthew Boast continued his impressive start as a Warriors player, taking 3/36 to help reduce the Dragons to 149/5 on Day One.

In Pietermaritzburg, half-centuries from Daniel Smith (61), Kyle Simmonds (60) and Valentine Kitime (52) pushed the visitors to 275/5 against the Tuskers.