Pretorius century powers Titans over 300 against Western Province

A stunning maiden list A century from 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius set the Momentum Multiply Titans on their way to a solid 337 for seven batting first in their CSA One-Day Cup match against World Sports Betting Western Province at WSB Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon.

The Titans won the toss and chose to bat, and thanks to Pretorius’ superb innings, were able to set a very competitive total, but they will be slightly disappointed not to have capitalised more after a stunning start saw them on 183 for one in the 33rd over.

But Pretorius’ wicket, out for a brilliant 120 off 96 balls, having launched seven sixes and 11 fours over his innings, started a regular procession of wickets before a superb lower-order finish boosted them at the end.

The Titans' innings got off to a slow start, and Rivaldo Moonsamy (9), who had struggled to get the ball away, was first to fall, edging Onke Nyaku to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne with the score 27 for one in the seventh over.

That brought Keegan Petersen (48) in to join Pretorius and they set about building a platform for the Titans to fire from down the back straight of the innings.

Petersen was clearly the anchor, as he faced 82 balls in his innings and only hit four boundaries, with him giving the strike to the in-form Pretorius, which allowed him to flay the Western Province bowlers around the ground as he cruised past fifty, while the Titans went past 100 and 150.

Pretorius brought up his century in style, squeezing a late cut to deep backward square leg for four, and then looked to be setting himself up for a huge score when he came down the wicket at Kyle Simmonds, missed and Verreynne did the rest behind the stumps to send him on his way.

That started the Western Province fightback as Petersen was caught in the deep by Eddie Moore off Mihlali Mpongwana, Neil Brand (6) was trapped LBW by George Linde and Sibonelo Makhanya (9) popped a return catch back to Lawrence as they slipped to 233 for five.

This while Dewald Brevis, 42 off 32 (2x4; 2x6), was hammering the ball around, but when he hit Lawrence straight to Simmonds to leave the Titans on 250 for six in the 43rd over, they were in danger of not even getting to 300.

However the lower-order charge led by Dayyaan Galiem, 48no off 24 (4x4; 2x6) then began, as he shared in a 33-run stand with Andile Phehlukwayo (18) and an unbeaten 54-run partnership with Matthew Boast, 20no off 13 (2x4; 1x6).

Three sixes in Dane Paterson’s 46th over saw 21 come off it, a four and six in Mpongwana’s 48th added 13 to the total, two fours in a messy 49th from Nyaku saw it go for 17, and two fours and a six in Mpongwana’s 50th helped 19 come off it as the Titans finished with a flourish.

WESTERN PROVINCE: Eddie Moore, Valentine Kitime, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (capt, wk), Yaseen Vallie, George Linde, Mihlali Mpongwana, Onke Nyaku, Kyle Simmonds, Dane Paterson, Jody Lawrence

TITANS: Lhuan-Dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy, Neil Brand (capt), Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Matthew Boast, Roelof van der Merwe, Junior Dala