Titans topple Griquas

The Northerns Titans claimed a comfortable 153-run victory over the Griqua Diamonds in their opening Supersport Series match at Supersport Park on Monday.

Griquas were set a target of 401 runs for a victory, but the visitors were bowled out for 247 with 29 overs to spare.

Resuming on their overnight total of 29 for one, Griquas frustrated their hosts with a few final acts of defiance, such as the 42 from Zahir Abrahim, 41 from Grant Elliott and a 43 from Jason Brooker.

But Rudi Steyn's 188 not out in the Titans' second innings - which predictably earned him the man of the match award - had set the stage for an inevitable Titans victory.

Most of the damage was done in the session before lunch. Having already despatched of one danger man in Mickey Arthur the previous day, the Titans claimed the wicket of another in Martyn Gidley seven overs into the day's play when he was bowled by Greg Smith for 15.

A collapse that saw Griquas lose three wickets for only 33 runs put the outcome beyond doubt, with the Kimberley side stumbling into lunch at 136 for six.

The visitors threw a desperate 46-run partnership for the seventh wicket at the Titans, but could not erase the earlier damage of fielding a mediocre bowling attack that was lapped up by the Titans' batsmen.

"It's a very good start to the season," said Titans captain, Gerald Dros. "We're a young team and have a lot of guys who are just starting out in their careers. But it was a good batting performance that clinched it for us. We just need to keep this momentum going for the Strikers at the Wanderers this weekend."