Warriors fight back against Titans

Andrew Birch and Basheeru-Deen Walters claimed three scalps apiece to haul the Warriors back into their Sunfoil Series clash with the Titans and set up an intriguing final day at SuperSport Park.

The Warriors’ chances of taking something out of the game appeared to have evaporated after they conceded a 160-run deficit on first innings, but a disciplined bowling performance on the third day saw the Titans dismissed for 171 to set a target of 332.

Although that remains a stiff task, the contributions of Yaseen Vallie (42), Colin Ackermann (45) and Colin Ingram (25 not out) gave the visitors a glimmer of hope for the final day, when they will resume on 126 for three.

Walters’ five-wicket haul had limited the damage done by the Titans in the first innings, and he struck first on day three as the Titans resumed on nine without loss, when he had Dean Elgar caught for 12.

With Theunis de Bruyn’s 48 easily the top score the Titans were unable to form a meaningful partnership thereafter. Ayabulela Gqamane also weighed in with a handy double-strike for the Warriors, dismissing Henry Davids and Farhaan Behardien with consecutive deliveries.

Walters took out the rest of the middle order and went on to record figures of 3 for 39 to go with his 5 for 49 in the first innings, while Birch (3 for 43) broke De Bruyn’s resistance and then grabbed two lower-order scalps.

The Titans innings was done and dusted in 46.1 overs, leaving the Warriors with a little over four sessions in which to score the runs required.

After Eldred Hawken dismissed David White in his first over, Ackermann and Vallie fought back with an 83-run stand before the latter was bowled by David Wiese.

Rowan Richards then struck a crucial blow in the final half-hour when he bowled Ackermann, making the Titans favourites to pull off the win – even if the Warriors boast a greater chance than they had at the start of the day.

Sport24