Cape Town - Malusi Siboto and Lungi Ngidi shared seven wickets to pave the way for the Titans to seal the first Sunfoil Series win of the season by thumping the Highveld Lions by nine wickets at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Titans captain Aiden Markram also smashed a T20 style 81 not out (67 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes) as Mark Boucher's side ended the 2017/18 victory drought - one that had seen all 12 matches drawn over the opening four rounds.
There was no escaping a result in this game, though, especially after two below-par batting performances in the first innings with the Lions' 180 cancelled out by the Titans’ 213.
The Lions began day three on 104 for three, a lead of 71, but lost their remaining seven wickets for just 61 as Siboto and Ngidi caused havoc.
Proteas fast bowler Ngidi capped a wonderful match with figures of three for 46 in the second innings - an overall return of nine for 82 - on his return from injury after a four-month lay-off.
Siboto, meanwhile, was the pick of the bowlers with his outstanding four for 26.
Migael Pretorius (2/49) also collected a double, while Rassie van der Dussen’s 28 was the highest score for the Lions on day three.
The
Titans needed just 19 overs to race to their 133-run victory target and
got there thanks to an opening stand of 85 between Markram and Dean
Elgar (25), with Pretorius
completing the job with his unbeaten 22 of 10 balls that included three
sixes.