The Lions recovered from their Champions League T20 final defeat in blazing fashion when they beat the Titans by 269 runs in the first match of the domestic one-day competition at Centurion.
For the Titans, it was more heartache. After they lost to the Sydney Sixers off the last ball of their CLT20 semi-final, they slumped to the lowest total in a domestic limited-overs competition in South African history. They were bowled out for 60 in response to the Lions massive 329 for 6 and that, after they put the Lions in to bat on a belter.
Stephen Cook, who did not take part in the CLT20 but has been in training throughout, led the way with a 122-ball 125. He shared in an opening stand with 161-run opening partnership with Gulam Bodi, who was the second top run-scorer of the CLT20. The pair out on their runs in 28 overs before Bodi top-edged a sweep shot to square leg off Paul Harris.
Quinton de Kock, Grant Mokoena and Neil McKenzie were all dismissed cheaply and the Lions had been reined in to 255 for 5 in the 44th over. Jean Symes, who had a good CLT20 campaign, provided another late burst. His 43 off 27 balls included five fours and two sixes to take the Lions over the 300-run mark.
Surprisingly, Harris, Ethy Mbhalati and Roelof van der Merwe conceded at under six runs to the over but Rowan Richards and CJ de Villiers took punishment. Richards was a victim of Cook's onslaught and conceded 78 while De Villiers bowled his 10 overs for 70.
The pitch would have not made the Lions' bowlers think they would get away with an easy outing and they would have been surprised to see that they did. The Titans were 34 for 9 in the 16th over and all out inside 19 overs. The Titans scorecard included four ducks and only two batsmen got inot double figures.
Hardus Viljoen, who used to open the bowling with Marchant de Lange at Easterns, bowled a blistering spell upfront. With fiery pace in the upper 140 kphs, he took six for 19 and showed off seam movement. Chris Morris and Ethan O'Reilly didn't have much to share between them but picked up one and three wickets respectively. David Wiese managed 24 of 26 balls but it will be little consolation for the Titans who now lost their three of their last four matches against the Lions.
Lions roar silences Titans
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Lions roar silences Titans
