Klaasen and Ngidi power Titans to victory over Dragons

Heinrich Klaasen scored a brilliant half-century to set the Momentum Multiply Titans up for a pulsating seven-run win over the Eastvaal Renault Dragons in their CSA T20 Challenge match at the JB Marks Oval on Friday night.

Wihan Lubbe, the Dragons captain, won the toss and elected to bowl first.

 The Titans raced to 196-6 in 20 overs, before restricting the Dragons to 189-6.

The victory lifts the Titans to fifth-place on the table. They still have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

The Dragons, on the other hand, slip to sixth place and no longer have a shot of qualifying for the top four.

Klaasen marked his return to the Titans line-up with a match-winning 31-ball 53 (3x6, 3x4).

This is his 36th T20 half-century, and he faced 30 balls to reach the milestone.

The 34-year-old had to be content with playing second fiddle to Dayyaan Galiem (35) and Donovan Ferreira in the first half of his innings.

Galiem, who is enjoying a purple patch with the bat after his impressive knock against WSB Western Province, was the aggressor in their 35-run third-wicket partnership.

Klaasen and Galiem's partnership came on the back of an outstanding 48-run second-wicket stand between Galiem and Andile Phehlukwayo (43).

The pair navigated the early part of the Titans' innings with aplomb. They saw off the good balls and punished the bad ones. Their partnership set the platform for Ferreira and Klaasen to launch from.

Klaasen and Ferreira added 29 runs from 15 deliveries for the fourth wicket. Ferreira was aggressor in that stand with a brisk 10-ball 22.

Klaasen then took charge, scoring the majority of the 49 runs the Titans scored in the last four overs.

NGOEPE HEROICS IN VAIN

Later in the evening, Lesiba Ngoepe almost powered the Dragons to what would have been the highest chase in the history of the CSA T20 Challenge.

The 32-year-old struck a sensational 65 off 40 balls (6x4, 2x6). This is his maiden T20 half-century, and he faced 32 deliveries to reach the milestone.

The Dragons had an inopportune start by losing three wickets in the first three overs of their innings.

However, Ngoepe and Wihan Lubbe breathed life into the Dragons' innings with a brilliant 77-run fifth-wicket partnership.

The partnership ended when Lubbe tried to flick a delivery from Dayyaan Galiem over the rope on the legside.

The ball flew straight to Ferreira, who took an easy catch. The Dragons captain was dismissed for 46 off 32 balls (3x4, 2x6).

Ngoepe kept the Dragons' dream alive over the next six overs after Lubbe's dismissal.

He shared a stubborn 57-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ruan de Swardt (25*).

All hope vanished though when Ngoepe holed out against Lizaad Williams to Duan Jansen at long-on with two deliveries left in the contest.

Lungi Ngidi, who was also making his return to the Titans from international duty, played an important role in his side's victory.

The Proteas pacer put the visitors on the front foot with the early wickets of Janneman Malan and Meeka-eel Prince.

Ngidi also showed his experience by bowling brilliantly at the death.

He conceded only nine runs in the 19th over to keep the Titans ahead.

Then Lizaad Williams stepped up to defend just under 20 runs in the last over, and did so brilliantly.

Ngidi finished with two wickets for 38 runs, while Williams was one of four Titans bowlers to take a single wicket each.

EASTVAAL RENAULT DRAGONS: : Ludwich Schuld, Janneman Malan, Meeka-eel Prince, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Diego Rosier, Lesiba Ngoepe, Ruan de Swardt, Onke Nyaku, Jade de Klerk, Caleb Seleka, Alfred Mothoa.

MOMENTUM MULTIPLY TITANS: Andile Phehlukwayo, Keegan Petersen, Donovan Ferreira, Sibonelo Makhanya, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Keegan Lion-Cachet, Dayyaan Galiem, Duan Jansen, Roelof van der Merwe (capt), Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi.