After a fascinating league phase and an entertaining day of semi-finals we have reached the big day in the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge. It’s Titans who will go head-to-head against Rocks in the finale at St. George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on February 27, 2022.
These two have met each other once in the league phase where Titans came on top as they won a close encounter by just 3-runs.
In the first semi-final, Titans crushed Dolphins to win it by 6-wickets with 35-deliveries remaining. Dolphins crawled their way through to 93/8 in the crucial knock-out game. Shamsi was once again magnificent with his spell as it read 4-1-15-3. Dala and Williams were the other two consistent performers with the ball for them. The chase was a walk in the park for the Titans as Dewald Brevis played a calm innings under the heat of the semi-final game to take his team to the finale.
Talking about the second semi-final where it was again a bowling day for the Rocks as they bundled out their opponents, Western Province for a score of 118-runs. Abrahams was the star with the ball as he took 4-wickets. Chasing was again an easy one as their skipper Pieter Malan anchored the innings with a gritty fifty.
Abrahams is the leading wicket taker in this tournament with 12-wickets to his name. His teammate, Shaun von Berg is in third place with respect to wickets as he has 11 to his name. On the other hand, Pieter Malan, the skipper of Rocks is the top run getter in the ongoing tournament with 297-runs to his tally and will look to continue his form in the all-important final. For the Titans, Klaasen is in third place with 236-runs. Most of South Africa’s limited overs players will take the field on Sunday and it should be a mouth-watering fixture.
Both the teams have settled line-ups and will look to dominate in the finals. Titans , the most successful team in the history of the tournament will try to press their opponents down who are playing their first ever final. So who is going to lift the silverware will be known on Sunday.
Match Details
Titans vs Rocks- The Final
Date and Time- February 27, 2022, 4:30 PM IST
Venue: St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
Broadcast: Star Sports Select 2, Star Sports Select 2 HD, Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report
The St.George’s Park pitch is used for all the matches in the tournament and will not play differently in the semis as well. It will be a slow and turning track. As we saw in the semi-finals, it really slows down and batting becomes tougher with the slow bowlers bowling. Spinners will enjoy the track and must bowl the majority of the overs. The average score batting first is around the 140’s. Win the toss and bowl first should be the secret on this track. Weather is all clear for this finale.
Squads
Titans
Theunis de Bruyn (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Dayyaan Galiem, Heinrich Klaasen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donavon Ferreira, Ayabulela Gqamane, Dewald Brevis, Aaron Phangiso, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi, Junior Dala, Grant Mokoena, Corbin Bosch, Gihahn Cloete.
Rocks
Pieter Malan (c), Janneman Malan, Cebo Tshiki, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Christiaan Jonker, Ferisco Adams, Michael Copeland, Valintine Kitime, Hardus Viljoen, Shaun von Berg, Ziyaad Abrahams, Siyabonga Mahima, Achille Cloete, Hlomla Hanabe, Zakhele Qwabe, Imran Manack.
Probable Playing XI
Titans
Quinton de Kock (wk), Dewald Brevis, Theunis de Bruyn (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Sibonelo Makhanya, Donavon Ferreira, Ayabulela Gqamane, Junior Dala, Aaron Phangiso, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Rocks
Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan (c), Clyde Fortuin (wk), Michael Copeland, Ferisco Adams, Christiaan Jonker, Shaun von Berg, Imran Manack, Siyabonga Mahima, Ziyaad Abrahams, Valintine Kitime.
CE Fantasy XI
Dewald Brevis, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen, Ziyaad Abrahams, Shaun von Berg, Tabraiz Shamsi, Theunis de Bruyn, Aaron Phangiso, Clyde Fortuin
Captain- Quinton de Kock
Vice-Captain- Pieter Malan