Shamsi record haul eases Titans to victory in Port Elizabeth
Tabraiz Shamsi claimed the best-ever figures by a Titans bowler to help his team crush the Warriors by eight wickets on the final day of their 4-Day Domestic Series encounter in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Shamsi broke a record set by Dale Steyn some 12 years ago, finishing with an impeccable eight for 32 in 16.2 overs as the hosts were emphatically blown away for 124 on the fourth morning.
That set the visitors a meagre target of 63 which they achieved in nine overs at St George’s Park to move top of Pool B with a second win in as many games.
Shamsi was the star of the final two days with his career-best return leaving the Warriors in a spin. In the end his figures bettered Steyn’s return of eight for 41 for the Titans against the Eagles that were recorded at Bloemfontein way back in 2007/08.
The home side began the last day on 97 for six after being rocked on the penultimate evening by the spinner as they sought to build on their precarious 35-run lead.
But they lasted only 8.2 overs as Shamsi grabbed three of the final four wickets in the form of Mthiwekhaya Nabe (6), top-scorer Sinethemba Qeshile (28) and Stefan Tait (0).
The other wicket was claimed by Lizaad Williams, who ended with one for 48.
The Titans received a minor scare at the start of the chase when Nabe (2/27) got rid of Dean Elgar for a rare duck followed by Theunis de Bruyn for 13.
But Heinrich Klaasen (20) and Aiden Markram (19) settled the nerves, before quickly chasing down the runs to seal another big win.
