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DAY 3: Hamza and Sipamla put the Lions in control of final against Titans

football12 April 2025 15:20| © MWP
By:CS Chiwanza
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Zubayr Hamza © Gallo Images

Zubayr Hamza notched an outstanding century to help the DP World Lions register a first-innings score in excess of 400 runs in their CSA 4-Day Series final encounter against the Momentum Multiply Titans.

The Titans were on 17/3 at the close of play, trailing the hosts by 396 runs with seven wickets in hand.

The Lions won the toss, elected to bat first and filled their boots with a score of 413-7.

The visitors lost three wickets in a nervy final hour of play and had Keegan Petersen (5*) and Junior Dala (0*) at the crease at stumps.

The Lions did not concede a defeat on their way to the final, they won three matches, drew another three and had a single washout.

They were indomitable thanks to their well-oiled bowling attack. The Lions' bowlers hit the ground running, grabbed early wickets and put the visitors under pressure.

Bjorn Fortuin was the last Lions batter to be dismissed and was also the first bowler to take a wicket.

He provided the home side with an early breakthrough when he castled Joshua van Heerden in the fourth over.

Lutho Sipamla followed that up with two wickets four overs later.

He trapped Neil Brand lbw and squared up Dewald Brevis in consecutive deliveries to leave the Titans reeling on 17-3.

HAMZA THE HERO

The early wickets forced the Titans onto the back foot as they looked to reply to the Lions' first innings total which is, in large part, thanks to Zubayr Hamza's brilliant knock.

Hamza scored an outstanding 103 off 198 balls.

The hosts were on 28-1 when he arrived in the middle and then on 295-5 when he vacated the crease.

The Lions' star saved the best of his form for the final.

Hamza rode the ebbs and flows of the innings. He tightened his defence when the Titans hit the good areas and put pressure on the Lions, and pounced when the visitors offered anything loose.

The 29-year-old came into the contest with five half-centuries under his belt, with a high score of 84.

The No 3 batter kept his cool as he compiled his 18th first-class century in 194 balls.

Hamza reached the milestone in style as he lofted a Tshepo Ndwandwa delivery down the ground for a four.

Hamza’s six-hour innings came to an end four deliveries later after he tried to guide the ball past Dewald Brevis at gully.

Unfortunately, he miscued the shot and the ball stayed airborne a fraction longer than he expected.

Brevis completed a straightforward catch to end the 29-year-old’s brilliant knock.

The hosts looked like they were ceding control of the encounter when they lost Hamza, Connor Esterhuizen and Wandile Makwetu after tea.

However, they consolidated with an outstanding 108-run seventh-wicket partnership that saw them past the 400-run mark.

Fortuin romped to a 64-ball ninth first-class half-century. This is also his second half-ton of the season.

He was dismissed for 62 off 78 deliveries.

Fortuin and Delano Potgieter were picking up the pace with their scoring.

Fortuin fell while trying to launch an Andile Phehlukwayo delivery out of the park. The Lions declared after Fortuin's dismissal.

Janco Smit was the Titans' most successful bowler with three wickets for 84 runs in 25 overs.

Junior Dala chipped in with a brace of wickets, while Dayyaan Galiem and Andile Phehlukwayo each bagged a single wicket.

LIONS: Joshua Richards, Dominic Hendricks (capt), Zubayr Hamza, Mitch van Buuren, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Wandile Makwetu, Delano Poitgieter, Bjorn Fortuin, Codi Yusuf, Tshepo Moreki, Lutho Sipamla.

TITANS: Neil Brand (capt), Joshua van Heerden, Keegan Petersen, Dewald Brevis, Rivaldo Moonsamy (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Junior Dala, Janco Smit, Tshepo Ndwandwa.

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