Johannesburg – Veteran opener Henry Davids laid the foundation before the front-line bowling attack ripped through the Highveld Lions' top order on Friday night, as the Titans ended their poor run of form in the domestic T20 Challenge.
The hosts coasted to a 27-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis method, handing the log leaders their first defeat of the competition in the rain-affected clash in Benoni.
The win secured the Titans their first points from six matches in the domestic T20 campaign.
Spearheaded by speedster Ethy Mbhalati, who took two for 29, the Titans bowlers restricted the visitors to 52 for four midway through their innings, with the Lions chasing 168 runs to win off 16 overs.
Jeans Symes put up a solid fight, smashing 57 from 32 deliveries and sharing 52 runs with Dwaine Pretorius for the fifth wicket.
Pretorius, however, was removed with 64 still needed off 3.3
overs, and Symes was unable to get them over the line, as they were held to 140 for five.
Earlier, the Titans were carried by Davids in their innings, which was twice disrupted by rain, as they reached 161 for six after losing the toss and being sent in to bat.
Davids combined with Theunis de Bruyn, who contributed 30 runs in a 75-run stand for the first wicket, before he propped up the middle order.
After racing to his 17th career half-century off just 24 balls, he was eventually dismissed in the 15th over for 75 runs from 42
deliveries, including seven fours and four sixes.
In-form spin bowler Eddie Leie, who pocketed the scalp of De Bruyn, was the best of the Lions bowlers, taking two for 17. – Sapa