Pretorius in partnership for Titans’ opening win against Lions

Lhuan-dre Pretorius (82 off 43, 4x10,6x5) combined for a match winning partnership of 152 off 82 balls with captain Keegan Petersen ( 68 off 40, 4x7,6x3) as they set the Lions a record target of 259 to win off 20 overs.

While the Titans played an innings to remember as they hit the record books after surpassing the previous best score of 226 in 20 overs, the Lions played themselves into early trouble.

A combination of poor stroke play and good new ball bowling from Dayyaan Galiem (3-22) and Roelof van der Merwe (3-28) reduced the Lions to 8-5 with less than three overs bowled.

Needing to score at 12.96 runs per over, the home side run chase was off to a disastrous start, and they never recovered as the asking rate continued on its upward curve. The pitch looked the opposite of what it was in the first innings, and what was already a tough task got even steeper with the fall of every wicket.

Van der Merwe announced his return with the scalps of Zubayr Hamza (2), Wandile Makwetu(5) and Connor Esterhuizen (0).

Galiem, high in confidence with good rhythm, found a length, beat the outside edge of Mitchell van Buuren's bat, but didn’t miss the off-stump as he saw the back of the home side's captain for a duck.

Muhammad Manack's attempt to play a pull shot off a Galiem short ball was only successful in landing in the safe hands of Petersen, and it was the Sky Blues that had all the momentum and were hunting in packs as Galiem and Van der Merwe continued to ask the right questions.

The Lions ended the powerplay on 22-5 and their route to the target was going nowhere slowly. Evan Jones (83 off 48,4x5,6x6) and Delano Potgieter (28) combined for a partnership of 75 runs before Galiem picked up Potgieter for his third of the night as the visitor continued to squeeze the life out of the homeside.

Earlier, The Lions won the toss of the coin and chose to bowl first, and that was just about their only victory before the onslaught got underway.

The Titans signalled their intentions early with opener Pretorius finding the middle of the bat from ball one. Kwena Maphaka put a halt to proceedings with just 19 runs on the board as he removed Rivaldo Moonsamy (4) out bowled off his trademark pinpoint yorker.

Pretorius at the other end showed class, fine touch and brutal force as he took charge of the innings. The 18 year old scored his third career half century on his way to his highest career score of 82.

Petersen had a debut to remember after moving over from Boland, while Donovan Ferreira (53 off 19, 5x4,6x3) showed his class to set the home side an imposing target of 259 to win.

Maphaka 2-31 off his allotted four overs was the pick of the Lions bowlers in a day that all the bowlers took a tour around the Bull-ring.