Matthew Boast delivered a match-changing spell before Jordan Hermann and JP King hammered half-centuries to lead the Dafabet Warriors to a convincing seven-wicket win over the Momentum Multiply Titans in their YesPlay Pro20 Cup Super 8 clash at SuperSport Park on Wednesday evening.
The Titans came into this contest in need of a bonus-point victory to secure a semifinal spot in the competition, but they just never developed enough momentum to mount an insurmountable total.
Tristan Stubbs, the Warriors' captain, called correctly at the toss and elected to bowl first.
He rotated his bowlers well and successfully restricted the Titans to 180-9 in 20 overs. The Warriors needed only 18.4 overs to reach 183-3 and claim victory.
Jordan Hermann played a fine innings for his 13th T20 half-century. The left-hander was an immovable force at the top of the Warriors' batting order.
He struck nine fours and five sixes for his 95 from 53 balls.
The Warriors needed seven runs to win when he fell to Dayyaan Galiem's bowling. Hermann was going for a big shot when he skied the delivery to give Donovan Ferreira an easy catch.
The opener shared a mammoth 146-run second-wicket partnership with King.
The 23-year-old joined Hermann at the crease in the second over following Sibonelo Makhanya's dismissal.
King contributed a valuable 33-ball 56 to the Warriors’ effort.
Like Hermann, King fell to Galiem's bowling in the 15th over. Stubbs (14*) and Patrick Kruger (8*) shared a brief fourth-wicket partnership to see them over the line.
BOAST BESTS BATSMEN AFTER BEING BULLIED
Earlier in the evening, Boast set the stage for the Warriors' victory with a haul of four wickets for 33 runs in four overs.
The 23-year-old, who was introduced into the attack in the sixth over, had a nightmare first six deliveries. The seamer fell prey to Sinethemba Qeshile's boundary-hitting and conceded 26 runs.
The run leakage helped the Titans to find a firm foothold after losing early wickets in the powerplay.
Boast, who used to ply his trade at SuperSport Park with the Titans before moving to St George's Park, was pulled out of the attack immediately.
He returned four overs later and delivered a sensational second spell, claiming three wickets for seven runs in his next three overs.
He dismissed Dayyaan Galiem in his first over back, then accounted for Donovan Ferreira, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka and Dewald Brevis in a game-changing over.
Eathan Bosch played an inspired knock to lift the hosts to a competitive total.
The Titans were on 99-6 and in trouble when he walked in. The allrounder took control of the innings with a 37-ball 66.
Bosch's innings was one of two noteworthy batting performances by the hosts. The other one was Qeshile's 44 from 22 deliveries.
Kerwin Mungroo was the second-most successful bowler for the Warriors with two wickets for 26 runs in four overs.
Beuran Hendricks, Andile Mogakane and Senuran Muthusamy chimed in with a single wicket each.
The victory secured the top spot for the Warriors.
They will face Dafabet Boland, who benefited from the Titans being knocked out, in the final four.
The DP World Lions will cross swords with the YesPlay Cobras in the other contest.