Behardien, Morkel take Titans home
Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel's knocks ensured Titans held on to a six-wicket victory over Cobras to record their first triumph of the tournament
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Jan-2014
Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel's knocks ensured Titans held on to a six-wicket victory over Cobras to record their first triumph of the tournament. Titans won the toss and put Cobras in to bat. This seemed the right move when Richard Levi was dismissed for a three-ball duck in the first over. Hashim Amla found an ally in No.3 Graeme Smith, as the pair added 63 runs. Rowan Richards landed a double-blow to have Amla, two runs short of his fifty, and JP Duminy removed off consecutive balls. With Cobras on 96 for 4 after 13.1 overs, the heavens opened up as a thunderstorm cut short the innings.
A revised target of 89 runs required from ten overs was made for Titans when they came back for the chase. However, things didn't start brightly as the top order were all dismissed inside of three overs to leave Titans at a calamitous 22 for 3. With Morkel arriving at No.5, Titans enjoyed a period of good luck, with Morkel being dropped at mid-on by Levi on nought, before Behardien, off the next ball, was adjudged not out despite replays suggesting he had edged Justin Kemp to the keeper. Both batsmen capitalised on their good fortune by piling on 42 runs off the next five overs, steering Titans back on course. Morkel continued the job when Behardien fell for a 23-ball 41, sealing the victory with just three balls to spare.