Gqamane sets up Warriors win

Ayabulela Gqamane, a 23-year-old pace bowler, had a match to remember as he played a central role in setting up Warriors for a ten-wicket victory against Titans at Centurion. Gqamane took 6 for 40 on the third afternoon to run through the lower order after Titans had threatening to bring themselves back into the contest.

Gqamane had earlier starred with the bat, scoring a career-best 86 off 89 balls at No. 10, to earn Warriors a lead of 191 after the match had been heading for a far more even situation. Arno Jacobs had struck 105 but Titans, who had been bowled out for 222 first time around, fought back to have Warriors 265 for 8 before Gqamane added 129 for the ninth wicket with Simon Harmer (66 not out) to stretch them well ahead.

Titans then battled themselves back into contention by reaching 138 for 1. However, it did not last. Gurshwin Rabie made two breakthroughs before Gqamane took centre stage. His first scalp was Roelof van der Merwe followed by current one-day international player Farhaan Behardien (13).

It continued a rapid rise for Gqamane, who made his first-class debut for Warriors against Lions at the Wanderers last month and grabbed a match-winning 7 for 24 in the second innings.

The tail offered precious little resistance and in total Titans' last nine wickets tumbled for 66. It left just 14 to knock off which took under three overs. The win keeps Warriors second in the table, just over five points behind Cape Cobras, while Titans remain stuck at the bottom with four defeats in five matches.