Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Momentum Multiply Titans struck back with their first victory in the T20 series when they beat Namibia by 25 runs on Wednesday.
With Namibia winning the first two matches, they now hold an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the four match series. In Wednesday’s match the Titans posted a formidable total of 175 for seven wickets, while Namibia could only reach 150 for eight wickets.
Ruben Trumpelmann dismissed Grant Mokoena early on for five, but Neil Brand and Theunis de Bruyn put the visitors in charge with a 107-run partnership.
Pikky Ya France got the breakthrough dismissing De Bruyn for a top score of 65 off 44 balls (4×6, 3×4), and after Nicol Loftie-Eaton bowled Ayabulela Gqamane for 6, Ya France also removed Brand for 44.
Further down the order Dean Elgar added 18 but they lost regular wickets in the run chase before reaching 175. Ya France was Namibia’s top bowler, taking four wickets for 16 runs off three overs, while Trumpelmann took 2/25.
Namibia suffered an early setback in their innings when Stephan Baard was dismissed in the first over for six, and the Titans maintained the pressure with regular breakthroughs.
Zane Green was dismissed for 15, Michael van Lingen scored 18 and Gerhard Erasmus 14, Nicol Loftie Eaton 5 and when Karl Birkenstock was out for 4, Namibia was struggling at 74 for six wickets.
JJ Smit tried to revive the innings and hit some typically big sixes, but he ran out of partners as Namibia eventually fell 25 runs short of the target.
Smit remained not out on 44 off 29 balls (3×6, 3×4), while Ya France scored 20 and Jan Frylinck 10. Okuhle Cele was the Titans’ best bowler, taking three wickets for 19 runs, while Aaron Phangiso took 2/21.
