The Lions got the better of their Gauteng rivals on Monday when they beat the Titans by 18 runs in a rain-affected clash in Durban.
Both teams went into the encounter with a 100% win record so far in the CSA T20 Challenge, with the Pretoria outfit cruising past the Cobras this past Sunday.
The Lions batted first but lost the early wicket of Ryan Rickelton, who was knocked over by Lizaad Williams for only eight.
Reeza Hendricks went on the attack and raced to 39 from 28 deliveries when he was caught by Aiden Markram off the bowling of the dangerous Tabraiz Shamsi.
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Simon Harmer then dismissed Temba Bavuma, who added 13, while Lungi Ngidi accounted for the wicket of Dwaine Pretorius, caught by Harmer for 10.
Rassie van der Dussen, however, looked rock solid and sent a couple of big shots out of the ground to get the Lions past the 100-run mark.
Rain brought an abrupt end to the Lions’ innings, with them stranded on 124-4 after 16.2 overs. The match was reduced to 15 overs, setting the Titans a target of 131 runs for victory via the Duckworth Lewis method.
The Lions bowlers, though, were fearless and ripped through the Titans’ batting unit with some brilliant bowling.
Beuran Hendricks clean bowled Henry Davids for six before Sisanda Magala sent Aiden Markram packing for only five.
Dean Elgar made 10 but he sent one straight down Van der Dussen’s throat off a Bjorn Fortuin delivery, while Pretorius produced a brilliant piece of fielding to grab a Heinrich Klaasen attempt off his own bowling.
The Titans were dealt further blows with the departures of Chris Morris and Sibonelo Makhanya, Fortuin and Hendricks doing the damage again.
At 55-6, the Titans were way behind the required run rate and facing an uphill task of getting close to the Lions’ total.
Junior Dala tried valiantly towards the end of the innings but was caught by Bavuma for 21, while Harmer hit one straight to Hendricks on the boundary for 17.
The Titans could manage only 111-8 in the allotted overs, suffering their first defeat of the campaign, while the Lions remain unbeaten.
