Aiden Markram’s 36-ball 51 saw the Titans chase down 120 to hand the Cobras a third Ram Slam T20 Challenge defeat.
The Cobras’ woes continued as the Titans made a mockery of their star-studded batting lineup. On a good batting surface, JP Duminy played a lone knock as the rest of his team caved in around him.
Dale Steyn (2-16), Lungi Nidi (2-32), Malusi Siboto (2-16), Tabraiz Shamsi (1-16) and Aiden Markram (1-20) made light work of a team low in confidence as the venomless Cobras found themselves seven wickets down before the 100-run mark.
Duminy fought hard to keep his side’s innings together, but he missed out on consecutive half-centuries, losing his wicket on a 43-ball 40.
The only positive for the Cobras was that they prevented a knock-out, ending their 20 overs with a wicket to spare.
Vernon Philander gave hope to the hearts of Cobras fans when he removed Quinton de Kock and Henry Davids with 13 on the board.
Despite the loss of their openers, Markram and De Villiers gobbled up the pressure, rotating the strike and picking up the odd boundary.
Wayne Parnell’s introduction in the sixth over saw the Titans gain full control. De Villiers picked up four boundaries off the left-hander as Parnell conceded 19 runs, the Titans reaching 48-2 by the end of the powerplay.
De Villiers hit seven fours for his 22-ball 37, but skied a Mthiwekhaya Nabe delivery for a Duminy catch as the hosts were reduced to 83-3.
After stringing together a 42-ball 70 with De Villiers, Markram saw his side home, reaching his 50 in 35 balls (5×4, 2×6) as the Titans bagged their fourth win in four games with a seven-wicket win.
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images)
