Roelof, Faf dig Titans out of deep hole

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(Free-Press-Release.com) November 27, 2010 -- The Titans, chasing a daunting 300 for victory, had struggled to 104 for three at the halfway mark, but it was Van der Merwe who reignited their challenge with a scintillating 93 off just 51 balls. Titans coach Chris van Noordwyk may have been tempted to ban some of Van der Merwe's more outlandish strokes when he struggled for runs last season, but on Friday he put his faith in the out-of-favour international and sent him in at number five to revitalise the innings.

The masterstroke would see Van der Merwe plunder seven sixes and five fours as he raced to a 28-ball half-century (with six sixes!) and went on to a career-best score. Although he couldn't quite see the Titans home, dragging a Richard Cameron slower ball to deep square-leg, he had given his team a chance on 220 for five after 31 overs.

Van der Merwe and Du Plessis had added an astonishing 119 off just 74 deliveries and the Lions attack were looking increasingly sick. Inexplicably, fast bowler Ethan O'Reilly, who had earlier taken two for 17 in six overs with the new ball, was not used at all against the rampant pair.

BREAKTHROUGH

The Lions gave themselves a sniff again when Zander de Bruyn followed up Cameron's breakthrough by bowling Du Plessis for an impressive run-a-ball 61 - he was the ideal foil for Van der Merwe - in the next over, but Albie Morkel (24 off 17), Farhaan Behardien (25 not out off 19) and David Wiese (29 off 12) ushered the Titans home.

Wiese's innings was especially exciting as he hit three fours and two sixes in just 12 balls, taking 19 runs off O'Reilly in the 37th over as the Titans exacted revenge for a ridiculous lbw shout against Morkel, which umpire Murray Brown gave despite the ball pitching outside leg stump and the batsman edging it to fine leg!

The Lions had made the early running as they followed up their formidable total of 299 for eight by exerting tremendous pressure with the new ball.

O'Reilly trapped Henry Davids (two) lbw and had Jacques Rudolph (11) caught at backward point in an exciting burst. With Friedel de Wet offering good support from the other end, the Lions were on fire with the Titans battling to 30 for two after 10 overs.

Du Plessis and Gulam Bodi were unfazed, however, as they took their time initially before getting their 69-run partnership up to a run-a-ball. The root of the Lions' problems was the lack of bowling back-up for O'Reilly and De Wet, and the likes of Robbie Frylinck (7-0-58-1), Werner Coetsee (6-0-55-1), Paul Harris (5-0-45-0) and Cameron (4-0-44-1) had a rough old time of it, with Van der Merwe the chief thorn in their side with his vicious blade.

O'Reilly was the one bowler with a cutting edge but Lions captain Alviro Petersen kept him strangely hidden from view as the Titans slithered home with eight balls to spare.

VANDIAR CENTURY

The Lions innings was built around a great century by Jonathan Vandiar, who opened the batting and laid a terrific foundation as he scored a career-best 130 off 108 balls. The 20-year-old is a strongly-built youngster, but he nevertheless struck the ball with surprising power as he collected 13 fours and three sixes in a beautifully-paced innings that saw him bat through to the 33rd over.

Vandiar feasted on the bowling with an array of sweetly-struck drives and some strokes displaying brilliant touch.

His knock was obviously the main course for the Lions, but De Bruyn provided a wonderful dessert with his 53 not out off 40 balls to close the innings.

The Titans' most successful bowlers were their stars with the bat, spinners Van der Merwe and Du Plessis.

Du Plessis claimed three for 25 in his last four overs to mop up the tail, while Van der Merwe locked up the middle overs with two excellent spells that gave him overall figures of two for 40 in eight overs.

The Lions won the toss and chose to bat first, and quickly had the Titans under the whip as Vandiar and Petersen put on 44 for the first wicket off 37 balls.

Petersen may be the bigger name in international cricket terms, but he had to play second fiddle to young Vandiar as he scored 14 before miscuing a lofted drive off veteran seamer Andre Nel to deep midwicket.

DISRUPTING BATTING ORDER

Cameron came in at number three, but made an inauspicious start before getting to 45 off 37 balls. Nevertheless, Neil McKenzie has batted at number three for many years, and he would have been able to get set, while also being more adept at giving Vandiar the strike. The use of the pinch-hitter, thus disrupting the rest of the batting order, possibly caused the Lions to fall away a bit as they went to 194 for four after 27 overs.

While the Titans pace bowlers were poor in the absence of the injured Ethy Mbhalati, they have two fine limited-overs spinners in their armoury, and Van der Merwe and Du Plessis gave them fine service.

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