A three-wicket defeat to the WSB Cape Cobras on Wednesday night disrupted the Multiply Titans’ CSA T20 Challenge road trip somewhat, but the Sky Blues are still buoyant as they head into the final stretch of the season.

“We started off a bit slowly,” top scorer Tony de Zorzi said of the effort in Paarl.The wicket was a bit slow so Henry (Davids) and I tried to give ourselves a bit of a chance, because we knew it would skid better under lights. And that’s what happened,” he lamented of the conditions that got better and better for batting.

Not for the first time this term, De Zorzi stood out for the Titans, with some sparkling stroke-play at the top of the order as he went on to post a

Despite his own form, he was quick to heap praise on Theunis de Bruyn, whose own half-century looked to have given the visitors a fighting chance.

“Theunis is obviously a nice guy to bat with at number 3. He brings a lot of calm to the crease and experience and knowledge. I always learn quite a few things whenever I bat with him.

“We’ve had a few partnerships so I always learn something, whether mental or a technical part of the game. I’ve really enjoyed it so hopefully I can keep learning from him.”

The Cobras, to their credit, still managed to get up against the Titans, and De Zorzi explained that the usually slow Paarl track played better and better under the lights.

“We thought we posted a competitive total and obviously Fudgie and Theunis had a good knock at the end as well. So we thought we put enough on the board, but the wicket got better for the Cobras to bat on and, unfortunately for us, they batted really well.”

The setback against the Cobras hasn’t dampened spirits within the Titans, however. As it is, they have welcome the VKB Knights on Friday night before a grudge match with the Lions on Sunday afternoon. For whatever reason, the neighbours have had the wood on the Sky Blues this season.

“We’ve got two crunch games this weekend to make sure we get a semi-final spot. The Lions have been playing really good white ball cricket against us, so we need to take some momentum into this Friday and Sunday’s games and then into the semis,” the top-order ace insisted.

“I think we are the kind of team that is hard to stop once we get momentum.”

For that to happen, the Titans will need to go back yo their hallmarks of fast bowling and even faster scoring.
They return to a place that is primed for them to do just that. Their fortress, SuperSport Park, is back on the menu, and De Zorzi said the team is excited to be back there.

“We all love playing at SuperSport Park. I think it shows in our results and the brand of cricket we’re able to play. Also, with the crowd that usually comes out to support, it’s always nice to play at SuperSport Park,” he beamed.

Multiply Titans team to face the VKB Knights: Farhaan Behardien (c), Matthew Arnold, Junior Dala, Theunis de Bruyn, Tony de Zorzi, Henry Davids, Donovan Ferreira, Eldred Hawken, Rubin Hermann, Gregory Mahlokwana, Tshepo Moreki, Diego Rosier, Grant Thomson, Jonathan Vandiar, Shaun von Berg