The injustice of cricket: MTN40 final
Oh the injustice of cricket, The Titans were extremely poor on Friday night as the Knights wrapped up the MTN40 final to become the 2010 champions.
Going into the MTN40 final the Titans were clear favourites, they had lost only one game, the season opener against the defending champions, the Warriors. From that game on they marched into the final, along the way producing some stellar performances, twice going past 300.
The Knights on the other hand had more of a bumpy ride getting to the MTN40 final, they lost to the Lions, Titans (home and away) and got thumped by the Dolphins in the pool stage. Having lost four games and finishing with only 13 log points the Knights were always the underdog.
The underdog prevailed.
I arrived late at SuperSport Park, so I can’t comment on the bowling effort from the Knights, or the seemingly poor batting effort from the Titans. If Faf du Plessis can knock 111* (96) and Morne van Wyk can score 85*, then it had to be a decent wicket, which leads me to think the Titans batsmen lost this one.
We all know cricket is a batsmen’s game, so let me not take anything from the bowlers. Ryan McLaren retuned devastating figures of 3 for 23 from 8 overs and all though expensive van der Wath claimed three wickets himself.
And then the rain came.
The Titans, only through the efforts of Faf du Plessis posted an under par 227. The Knights set about chasing down the total in style, they were always in control, but after the 8th over the rain came. A decent storm hit SuperSport Park, and set in.
After an hour or so of decent rain the locals were preparing to return the next day to watch their hero’s take a second shot at the title, it almost seemed fitting, the most consistent team of the series would be granted a reprieve in their moment of need.
And then the rain stopped.
Shock, horror, the rain gods cursed the locals and the game was under way again, Duckworth Lewis had kicked in leaving the Knights to chase 85 from 86 balls. Morne van Wyk put in an unbeaten 85* to take his team home.
The Titans stumbled at the last hurdle even with the addition of AB de Villiers and Morne Morkel, well played to the Knights, the 2010 MTN40 Champions.
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