Centurion – An unbeaten 113 not out from Farhaan Behardien helped The Titans crush the Lions by 38 runs in their One-Day Cup match in Centurion on Sunday.
Behardien scored his second List A century and played a key role in lifting the Titans to a menacing total of 302 for six in their 50 overs.
The Lions could only manage 264 all out in 49.4 overs as the Titans were too good for their Provincial neighbours.
Set the intimidating target of 303 for victory, the visitors were well-placed in their run-chase with the score on 217 for four after 39 overs, with Rassie van der Dussen (88) and Thami Tsolekile (33) out in the middle.
But Van der Dussen fell for a well-played innings when a change of bowling brought the downfall of the top scorer for the Lions.
Shaun von Berg picked up the crucial wicket.
Van der Dussen came down the pitch and attempted to clear the cover boundary, but only succeeded in finding Cobus Pienaar out in the deep.
The strike effectively ended any hopes the Lions had of winning.
Von Berg picked up Tsolekile two overs later, before claiming two more scalps in the Lions' tail.
Von Berg returned figures of four for 45 in his ten overs in a stellar display of spin bowling. Roelof van der Merwe matched his fellow spinner with four wickets for the cost of just 40 runs in his ten.
Earlier in Titans' innings, Behardien started off cautiously and brought up his 50 off 61 balls.
It was after he reached the half-century mark that his innings caught fire.
Behardien took just 27 deliveries to score his next fifty and brought up his century off 88 balls.
In total Behardien scored 64 of his runs through boundaries collecting ten fours and four sixes.
David Wiese (54 off 42 balls) and Behardien shared in an electrifying sixth wicket partnership of 124 coming off 82 balls.
Opening the innings, Henry Davids (95 off 93 balls) was in a belligerent mood, smashing the Lions to all parts of the ground.
Davids was ruthless in reaching his 50 off just 41 balls and struck nine fours and a six.
After reaching his half century, Davids took a more measured approach as he moved towards three figures.
Davids, however, was out for 95 when he wafted at a wide delivery from Dwaine Pretorius as the Titans fell to 155 for four after 31.1 overs.
But Behardien and Wiese ensured the Lions attack was taken apart at the end of the innings as the Titans posted the big score. – Sapa