DAY 4: Yusuf bags four-wicket haul as Lions take huge step forward
Codi Yusuf registered his sixth first-class four-wicket haul as the DP World Lions took charge of their CSA 4-Day Series final encounter against the Momentum Multiply Titans at the DP World Wanderers on Sunday afternoon. The Titans were on 51 for one at tea.
The Titans trail the hosts by 239 runs with nine wickets in hand. The Lions filled their boots with a first-innings score of 413 for seven after winning the toss and opting to bat first. The Titans failed to avoid the follow-on with their meek reply of 123 runs. Dominic Hendricks, the Lions captain, sensed an opportunity to get an early result and enforced the follow-on. The Titans had Joshua van Heerden (18*) and Keegan Petersen (23*) at the crease at the interval.
The Lions had a 290-run lead when they asked the Titans to bat again. The lead was thanks to Codi Yusuf. The Knysna-born 27-year-old pacer came into the encounter with two four-wicket hauls and a single five-wicket haul from this season's campaign. One of the four-wicket hauls came against the Titans in their season opener.
Yusuf took the last wicket before the lunch interval and emerged on the other side with a hot hand. The pacer accounted for Dayyaan Galiem's wicket in his first over after lunch. Yusuf wrapped up proceedings with two wickets in three balls three overs later with the dismissals of Janco Smit and Tshepo Ndwandwa. This is his sixth first-class four-wicket haul.
Codi and the team are pumped up!
— DP World Lions (@LionsCricketSA) April 13, 2025
With just 9 more wickets to bag, our Lions are hungry to get the game wrapped up after the tea break and hoist that 4-Day Series Trophy once more!!🏆🦁#LionsCricket #ThePrideOfJozi#SpiritOfChampions #4DaySeriesFinal#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/1lRIvCri6W
Yusuf finished the innings with four wickets for 46 runs in 16 overs. He was the Lions' most successful bowler. He was ably assisted by Bjorn Fortuin, who bagged three wickets for 27 runs in 12 overs. Lutho Sipamla took two wickets for 31 runs and Tshepo Moreki had a single wicket in seven overs.
The Titans' openers did not have a better start in their second attempt. Their opening stand was broken for eight runs in the first dig and collapsed for 19 runs in the second. The onus fell on Keegan Petersen, again, to help consolidate and provide the visitors with a firm footing. This is the second time Petersen was out to bat today.
INNINGS: We wrapped up our first innings on 123 all out.
— Momentum Multiply Titans (@Titans_Cricket) April 13, 2025
The Lions have enforced the follow-on - we're back in with the bat and currently 38/1, trailing by 253 runs.
Follow the action here📺: https://t.co/REDTS9EJzt#4dayseriesfinal pic.twitter.com/hEbG1xzKBu
Yusuf shared the new ball with Sipamla in the third innings. The Allan Donald-mentored pair placed weights on the Titans' feet and prevented them from moving forward with speed or momentum. Sipamla claimed the Lions' first wicket in the new innings only five overs after the restart. He squared up Neil Brand and the Titans captain miscued the ball to Joshua Richards at point.
Sipamla was the sole wicket-taker in the third innings with one wicket for 17 runs in four overs. Fortuin was the most economical, conceding nine runs in five overs, two of which were maidens.
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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