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Moonsamy, batters star as Titans crush Dragons

rugby05 March 2025 18:20| © MWP
By:Ross Roche
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A sparkling century from Rivaldo Moonsamy and a trio of fifties set the Momentum Multiply Titans up for a big total, followed by their bowlers doing the job as they clinched a 133-run win over the Renault North West Dragons in their CSA One-Day Cup match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

After winning the toss and batting first, the Titans powered to 376-6, with Moonsamy leading the charge as he struck his second straight century, finishing on 102 off 89 balls (10x4; 5x6).

He was backed up by Dewald Brevis, 57 off 32 (3x4; 5x6), Sibonelo Makhanya, 63* off 60 (3x4; 3x6) and Andile Phehlukwayo, 52 off 32 (3x4; 4x6) as they all chipped in to get them to the daunting total.

In response the Dragons got off to a decent start, but once opener Rubin Hermann, 63 off 49 (3x4; 3x6) fell, it was a procession of wickets as Janneman Malan, 92* off 97 (8x4; 1x6), watched as the rest of his teammates fell by the wayside as they crashed all out for 243.

Titans captain Neil Brand led the bowling effort with figures of 3-56, while Schalk Engelbrecht, 2-31, Phehlukwayo, 2-31, and Matthew Boast, 2-22, all contributed in a solid all-round showing.

The Dragons chase got off to a blistering start as Hermann and Meeka-Eel Prince, 23 off 13 (3x4; 1x6), shared 49 for the first wicket within six overs, before Prince was caught by Brand off Junior Dala.

That brought Malan in and along with Hermann they put the Dragons into a great position to chase down the score with an 83-run second-wicket stand.

At 132-1 in the 17th over the hosts were well on target, but when Hermann was caught by Keegan Petersen off Engelbrecht, it started a slide that saw the Dragons lose their last nine wickets for 111 runs.

Malan was man alone, as he desperately tried to keep his side in the game, but with Lesiba Ngoepe (18) and Matthew Kleinveldt (19) the only other two batters to reach double figures, he did not receive the help needed to make a proper fist of the chase.

TITANS BATTERS CASH IN

In the first innings the Titans got off to a brisk start thanks to the in-form Lhuan-dre Pretorius (21), but after hitting two fours and a six in his 18-ball stay, he edged Migael Pretorius to Malan at slip, leaving them on 28-1 at the start of the fifth over.

Moonsamy then took charge, sharing in two positive partnerships -- 62 with Brand (31) and 67 with Petersen (16) -- but both fell just as they were getting going, with the Titans on 157-3 at the start of the 25th over.

That brought Brevis in and along with Moonsamy they shared in the third straight half century stand as they combined to add 57 to the total, taking the Titans past 200.

Having just brought up his century, Moonsamy was finally removed, caught by captain Wihan Lubbe off the bowling of Ruan de Swardt, leaving the Titans on 214-4.

Brevis slammed his way to his half century, adding 31 with Makhanya, but when he picked out Malan on the long-off fence off Caleb Seleka, the Titans were in danger of not maximising, sitting on 245-5 in the 37th over.

However, Phehlukwayo and Makhanya then combined for the innings' highest stand and at a great rate as they cracked 94 off 64 balls to hammer them past 300, while both batters reached their fifties.

Seleka bowling Phehlukwayo at the end of the 47th over didn’t slow things down though, as it brought Dayaan Galiem in and he plundered an unbeaten 23 off just nine balls.

Galiem finished his side's innings with a flourish, hammering six, four six off the last three balls bowled by Kerwin Mungroo.

TITANS: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Rivaldo Moonsamy, Keegan Petersen, Neil Brand (capt), Dewald Brevis, Sibonelo Makhanya, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dayyaan Galiem, Matthew Boast, Schalk Engelbrecht, Junior Dala

DRAGONS: Rubin Hermann, Janneman Malan, Meeka-eel Prince (wk), Matthew Kleinveldt, Wihan Lubbe (capt), Lesiba Ngoepe, Ruan de Swardt, Migael Pretorius, Caleb Seleka, Kerwin Mungroo, Odirile Modimokoane

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