The Titans rounded off the Ram Slam season in style by crushing the Dolphins by seven wickets at Centurion.
With the depth of batting that the Titans boast, they are not afraid of chasing; but when they sent the Dolphins in to bat, they would not have thought it would be that easy.
Their pace bowlers, led by Chris Morris’ 4-13 off 21 balls, ran rampant and bowled out the Dolphins for 101 in 18.3 overs. The Titans needed just 11 overs and one ball to win their third consecutive Ram Slam title; their second under coach Mark Boucher.
Quinton de Kock came right after a few lean games, hammering 39 off 27 balls (4×4, 2×6) and the Titans were only 40 runs shy of the target when he departed. AB de Villiers came on for a cameo appearance lasting just 13 balls, but from those he smashed 27 runs, with three sixes.
Having relied so much on the left-arm spin of Tabraiz Shamsi in the run-up to the final – 16 wickets in eight matches – it was pure pace that smashed the Dolphins, starting with Morris removing Morne van Wyk (6) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (14) in successive overs with 25 runs on the board.
He would return to administer the coup de grace, sending back Andile Phehlukwayo (21) and Mthokozisi Shezi (0) off successive balls.
Perhaps the magnitude of the occasion had got to them, but the Dolphins could not handle the pace and accuracy. Lungi Ngidi picked up two, bowling Sarel Erwee for three and then coming back four overs later to remove Khaya Zondo for seven.
Malusi Siboto struck twice in one over, as Dane Vilas (21) edged on to his stumps, and Robbie Frylinck was caught behind without scoring. And that was that.
The Dolphins were never going to defend 101.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
