Nineteen wickets tumbled in Paarl on Friday where the Titans needed only 141 runs to win, with eight wickets in hand, after the second day of their SuperSport Series match against log leaders the Cape Cobras.
The Cobras made early inroads, with paceman Johann Louw removing openers Henry Davids and Jacques Rudolph to leave the visitors on 17/2 at stumps The Titans had resumed at 157/3 in the morning session, trailing by 42 runs in their first innings with seven wickets in hand.
They lost their last seven scalps, however, for only 50 runs as Proteas spin bowler Robin Peterson led the charge for the hosts.
Peterson bagged 5/60 – his 15th career five-wicket haul – to bundle the visitors out for 207.
With the Cobras only eight runs behind at the start of their second innings, however, only Stiaan van Zyl produced a significant contribution, with 67 runs from 150 balls.
Peterson, who had made a half-century in the first innings, added 30 runs down the order.
Part-time bowler Davids bagged his maiden five-wicket haul, taking 5/22 to dismiss the Cobras for 165 in the final session.
Elsewhere, spin bowler Imran Tahir led the way as the Dolphins finished in a commanding position against the Warriors in Durban.
Tahir took 3/55 as the Warriors were restricted to 179/7 in their first innings, trailing the hosts by 142 runs with only three wickets remaining.
None of the visiting side's top order carried through after making starts and a middle-order collapse put them on the back foot after they lost four wickets for 10 runs.
Wayne Parnell and Simon Harmer put up some resistance, sharing 86 runs for the seventh wicket before Parnell was removed by Dolphins captain Imraan Khan for 40 shortly before the close.
Harmer was on 40 not out at stumps, with fellow tail-ender Andrew Birch unbeaten on 11.
Earlier, Harmer had spearheaded the Warriors attack as they tore through the Dolphins lower order after the hosts had resumed at 269/5.
The home side added 52 runs before they were bowled out for 321
shortly before lunch.
Harmer returned 6/94 to pocket his sixth career five-wicket haul.
In Johannesburg, Highveld Lions captain Neil McKenzie and middle-order batsman Zander de Bruyn shared 162 runs for the fifth wicket, but the hosts were nonetheless left trailing the Knights by 95 runs with three wickets left in their first innings.
McKenzie held up the top order with a 73-run contribution, and De Bruyn hit 92 as the home side were restricted to 243/7 at stumps.
Seam bowlers Johan van der Wath, who took 3/72, and Ryan McLaren, who returned 3/61, shared the spoils as they put the visitors in control.
The Knights had earlier resumed at 250/7, with tail-ender Werner Coetsee making an unbeaten 78 as he guided them to 338 all out.
Cliffe Deacon and Pumelela Matshikwe took three wickets each to dismiss the visitors. – Sapa