Titans–Lions T20 abandoned as Mbulelo Dube leads Western Province to victory against the Dolphins

    The CSA T20 Challenge clash between the Titans and Lions at SuperSport Park in Centurion ended without a ball being bowled after relentless rain on Sunday forced the match to be called off.

    Mbulelo Dube Mbulelo Dube

    With conditions showing no sign of improvement, the teams agreed to abandon the fixture a little over an hour after the scheduled start. The washout was a major anticlimax, especially as a fiery showdown between the Highveld rivals had been anticipated. It also significantly dampened both sides’ chances of securing a place in the play-offs.

    The Titans sit fifth on the league with 10 points, two of which come from this abandoned match. With only one group game remaining, their path to the knockouts is slim: they must beat the Dolphins on Friday — ideally with a bonus point — and hope either Western Province or the Dolphins lose all of their remaining fixtures.

    For the Lions, the washout brought their first points of the campaign following three straight defeats, but they remain rooted to the bottom of the standings. With three group matches still to play, they would need a near-miraculous sequence of results, coupled with multiple slip-ups from other teams, to keep their play-off hopes alive.

    In the week ahead, the Lions take on the Dragons on Wednesday before meeting Western Province on Friday. The Titans will complete their pool-stage commitments against the Dolphins on Friday.

    Elsewhere, Mbulelo Dube delivered a career-best performance of 4 for 26 to help Western Province hold the Dolphins to 138/7 in their CSA T20 Challenge clash at Newlands on Sunday.

    After winning the toss, Western Province captain Daniel Smith sent Jon-Jon Smuts’ side in to bat. The Dolphins’ top order struggled for rhythm, and once Dube entered the attack from the Wynberg End, momentum swung firmly in the hosts’ favour.

    Dube struck with his fourth ball, removing left-hander Tshepang Dithole for 22 off 16 after he picked out Abdullah Bayoumy on the deep point boundary. Smuts followed soon after, attempting a ramp shot but only feathering a simple catch to wicketkeeper Smith, departing for a laboured 10 off 19.

    The Dolphins continued to falter as Dube had Bryce Parsons brilliantly taken at point by Valentine Kitime for 12. He then dismissed Eathan Bosch for a duck, drawing a bottom edge through to Smith, who completed his third catch off the seamer.

    George Linde (1/18 in four overs) added to the pressure by bowling the dangerous Gomolemo Phiri for 14. Leus du Plooy offered the most resistance for the Dolphins, hitting three boundaries in his 31 off 25, but his attempt at a reverse sweep off Josh Breed (2/32) only produced another straightforward catch for Smith behind the stumps.

    Breed also struck in the penultimate over, with Roshaman Pillay holing out to Eddie Moore at deep mid-wicket for just 2.

    The Dolphins finished strongly thanks to Andile Simelane, who hammered two sixes off Bayoumy to close on 28 not out from 18 deliveries. Nqobani Mokoena added an unbeaten 10 off six, including a six off Breed.

    Western Province XI: Eddie Moore, Valentine Kitime, Joshua van Heerden, Daniel Smith (capt, wk), George Linde, Abdullah Bayoumy, Josh Breed, Raeeq Daniels, Jivesham Pillay, Mbulelo Dube, Mthiwekhaya Nabe.

    Dolphins XI: Tshepang Dithole, Jon-Jon Smuts (capt), Bryce Parsons, Leus du Plooy, Eathan Bosch, Gomolemo Phiri (wk), Romashan Pillay, Andile Simelane, Nqobani Mokoena, Aryan Gopalan, Anrich Nortje.