Momentum Multiply Titans coach Rivash Gobind said at the start of the season that it would take “40 days of good cricket” to win the 1st-Class Series, but this week the 51-day slog that is now known as the Pro20 Cup gets underway with a thrilling double-header at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The Titans take on the YesPlay Western Province Cobras at 6pm on Friday night, after the earlier match between defending champions Dafabet Warriors and the North-West Dragons (2pm). And, in an announcement that should ensure SuperSport Park is teeming with the youngsters who adore them, new Titans heroes Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Donovan Ferreira should all be in action under the lights.

And Friday could also see the return of the blazing batting of Leus du Plooy, the Affies product returning to Titans cricket for the first time since 2018/19, and the mystery wrist-spin of the legendary Tabraiz Shamsi.

Tickets – at just R50 for both matches – are on sale at Ticketpro and ZARbet are giving away ten R1000 cash prizes, free beers and a double ticket for Melkfest in their various competitions. There will also be an autograph signing session after the Titans match.

“It’s great to have access to some proper quality cricketers who are at the cutting edge of global T20 cricket. They raise the standard of everyone else, so this week’s preparation has gone really good and we are ready to go,” Gobind said.

“Donovan Ferreira will be our captain, he has a fantastic cricket brain and I really enjoy his passion for the Titans franchise. And he’s a proper batter, as we saw when he made that four-day hundred against the Dolphins that helped get our season off to such a good start.

“It’s also going to be very exciting to see Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in action, they are youngsters themselves but they have attracted such a wonderful following of their own youngsters, who just love them.

“T20 is such a fast-paced game, so we want to bat with high intent, play front-foot cricket. Boundary intent is one of many numbers that the analysts measure these days, but the best batters are not just about power, they are also extremely efficient.

“In terms of our bowling, I want us to be the team that does not go away under pressure. People always say bowlers should expect to go for lots of runs in this format, but I don’t want us to have that mindset. We have some really effective bowlers and they should always win the battle in the end,” Gobind said.

The new Pro20 Cup sees the Division I and Division II teams combined into two pools, with the top four in each going through to the Super Eights. The final is set for November 14. So the Sky Blues want to be consistent, but they also want to be at the forefront of the innovation that is constantly changing the shortest format of cricket.

“We want to try and dominate, but we aren’t going to do that by playing run-of-the-mill cricket, we’re not going to stick to any of the cliches about the game. We want to challenge the thinking around T20, the best players do that.

“But consistency is also a thing in the T20 game and that’s what the Momentum Multiply Titans are striving for as well. It’s going to be a great challenge against the Cobras, but the positive is that we understand our conditions. Coastal teams have to adjust to the tempo when they come up here, strategically they need to make slight changes,” Gobind said.

Titans squad: Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Eathan Bosch, Beyers Swanepoel, Leus du Plooy, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Sinethemba Qeshile, Dayyaan Galiem, Tabraiz Shamsi, Junior Dala, Aphiwe Mnyanda, Donovan Ferreira, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Janco Smit.

Ruthless finisher starts South African season with exceptional century

The Ball in Play

Sep 21, 2026

Donovan Ferreira is back in South Africa, eager for the new season and daring to believe that he is the finisher the Proteas need for both next year’s ODI World Cup and T20 cricket. And yet it was in four-day, red-ball cricket where he first showed his class this season with an exceptional innings in the Northerns Titans’ opening match.

Ferreira has not been selected for the Proteas squad for the three ODIs against Australia starting on Thursday, but he knows competing with the likes of David Miller and Tristan Stubbs for the finisher role in the Proteas team is a tough challenge. He is full of belief, however, that he certainly belongs in that company. And the 28-year-old is pleased that his season started with a couple of four-day games for the Titans.

He made spectacular use of his first innings back in the country, scoring a magnificent 163 off just 180 balls as the Titans beat the KZN Dolphins by an innings at SuperSport Park. Ferreira came to the crease late on the first day after a powerful Titans attack had dismissed the Dolphins for just 157, but then the home side had been effectively reduced to 125 for five with one batsman retired hurt. He ensured he survived the dozen overs until stumps, but then produced a masterclass on the second day, batting through the entire morning session with Simon Harmer.

Ferreira batted within himself until he reached his century off 143 deliveries, but he is such a ruthless dispatcher of anything loose, whatever the length or line, that he was still scoring fluently against bowlers who were holding sway. He then exploded, lashing 63 runs off his next 37 balls. It was a career-best effort, his fourth first-class century lifting his first-class average to 49.59 after 15 matches.

“This is going to be a big season and I’m glad I’m going to be available for quite a few games for the Titans. The franchise means a lot to me, it’s my base and it’s a chance for me to reset and grow. It’s really nice to be part of the Titans because Albie Morkel [assistant coach] has helped me a lot with my batting, he knows my game well. And I’m pleased to start the season with red-ball cricket because it’s important to have that base for your batting,” Ferreira told kenborland.com.

“In terms of Proteas selection, I can only focus on what I can do. The higher powers have their job to do in terms of selection; my responsibility is to score as many runs as possible. That’s my focus. I will give everything and just try to contribute to the Titans team, share my knowledge and experience from playing T20 around the world.

“In terms of the domestic Pro20, I’m going to put a lot of focus on preparation and backing myself. My role as a finisher is an important one and it’s a diverse role because the situations you come into are not aways the same. I still believe I can contribute to the national team, if you don’t believe that then it becomes a lot harder. I definitely believe I can conquer that challenge,” Ferreira said.

Central to Ferreira’s belief is the fabulous IPL tournament he had earlier in the year. He was able to start 15 games this season for the Rajasthan Royals, having played only two matches for them in 2024 and just once for Delhi Capitals in 2025. His confidence grew and grew as he ended the campaign with 317 runs (75% in boundaries) in 13 innings, at a strike-rate of 179 and an average of 35.

Ferreira was a standout player as the Royals reached Qualifier 2, competing with lethal compatriot Heinrich Klaasen and Australian behemoth Tim David for the most sixes in the death overs (16-20). He has become one of the best in the world at hitting yorkers over the boundary and his fantastic numbers speak to a batsman who has matured, pacing his innings superbly thanks to the mental clarity he has developed.

“The IPL was big for me in terms of performance. I’d sat bench for three years and I was just trying to cement myself when I went back to Rajasthan. Fortunately for me, Sam Curran got injured and that opened a door for me. I had to take the opportunity and thankfully my game was in an improved space.

“Things happen for a reason and I believe it was an important stage of my career. My process now stays the same, I’m used to conditions in India and my spin play has improved. I used those three years to grow me and get ready for the highest level.

“You need stumbling blocks to keep growing and I’ve learnt a lot of lessons through all the ups and downs. Playing a lot of cricket gives you the opportunity to do well. If I stick to my processes, I believe I can really push the bar. I still need to fine-tune one or two things,” Ferreira said.

While the seasoned Miller and the exciting Stubbs currently have the inside lane in the squabble for the finishing role with the Proteas at next year’s 50-over World Cup, don’t underestimate Ferreira’s claims. He is a steely character with audacious skills when it comes to striking a cricket ball, and there was a grim determination in his eyes when he said:

“I missed out on the T20 World Cup earlier this year when I fractured my collarbone, so that was an opportunity taken away, but it was out of my control. For any player, being in a World Cup is the ultimate goal. But I need to keep my focus on the process, just give myself the best opportunity to score runs.

“And then it’s in the selectors’ hands. To play in and hopefully win the World Cup at home would be the absolute ultimate.”

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has been known to do some daring things, and perhaps Stubbs’s ability to bat in different positions and Ferreira’s added strings to his bow in being able to bowl off-spin or keep wicket will encourage the maverick to do something left-field like picking them both, as well as Miller …

It was an emotional four days at SuperSport Park in Centurion for former Proteas fast bowler Fanie de Villiers as he watched the son of his late former new-ball partner at the same ground make his Test debut for South Africa against Pakistan, but it also got him thinking about Corbin Bosch’s surprisingly mediocre first-class record.

Bosch made a sensational Test debut in the first Test against Pakistan with a great all-round showing. He took a wicket with his first ball, on his way to fine figures of four for 63. He then counter-attacked smartly with the bat, coming in at 191 for seven and refusing to be pinned down despite being under massive pressure in difficult conditions for batting. His 81 not out at number nine was a terrific innings and hugely significant in the thrilling outcome of the match as it made up the bulk of the Proteas’ 90-run first-innings lead.

But while the 30-year-old was continuing his outstanding recent form with the bat, taking his first-class average this season to 96, he was primarily chosen for his fast bowling. And Bosch came into the game with a first-class record of 72 wickets in 34 matches at a humdrum average of 36.75. He had only taken one five-wicket haul in his career.

Father Tertius, who passed away in perplexing circumstances at the age of just 33 in 2000, shared the new ball between 1987/88 and 1993/94 with De Villiers for the Northerns cricket team that was based at SuperSport Park. Bosch senior claimed 210 wickets in 68 first-class matches at an average of 27.56. His pace and aggression was enough to earn him a place in South Africa’s 1992 World Cup squad and their first Test since isolation, in the West Indies that April.

While De Villiers was two years older than Bosch, he only made his Test debut in December 1993, on the tour to Australia in which he famously bowled them to victory in Sydney by five runs, defending just 116, with six for 43 in the second innings and 10 wickets in the match.

“It was absolutely emotional to watch Tertius’ son make his Test debut, and it was a privilege to be able to commentate on the same day,” De Villiers told SportsBoom.com. “Most people thought the younger brother Eathan had surpassed Corbin and was more likely to be selected for the national team, but Corbin really used his opportunity.

“I was surprised that every ball he bowled was over 140km/h. He must have developed a lot over the last couple of years, judging by his first-class average. It suggests he did not have the best help in his early career. And it also shows that he has not played a lot of first-class cricket.

“That’s the biggest problem with our young bowlers, because then it is difficult for them to develop properly. In most white-ball cricket, bowlers are looking to slant the ball into the batsman so you don’t give away too many runs, while you want to take it away from the bat in Test cricket. So it’s like having to detox when you play with the red ball, you have to change those muscle memories,” De Villiers said.

Before December 2024, Bosch must have looked at international cricket from afar, perhaps wondering if his chance to emulate his father had gone. But a host of injuries to South Africa’s fast bowlers, his all-round ability, improved first-class performances and Proteas coach Shukri Conrad’s desire for real pace on the Highveld, combined to make his dreams come true.

Bosch is averaging 22.60 with the ball this season, but in the three seasons before that, he only played 11 first-class matches.

The 26-year-old Eathan Bosch has already taken 100 first-class wickets in 40 matches at an average of 26.94.

The death of Tertius Bosch when Corbin was just five and Eathan was not yet two-years-old would obviously have had a massive impact on his sons, made worse by the fact there were clouds of suspicion that the wife may have poisoned the husband.

“When I think of what I put into my boys in anticipation of them being cricketers, it’s amazing what Corbin and Eathan have achieved,” De Villiers said. “They never had a father, so to make it is incredible and they are both such good cricketers.

“I feel it is so important for someone to create that dream world for children, which Tertius would have created for his sons. You look at Ray Jennings [Keaton], Kepler Wessels [Riki] and Jimmy Cook [Stephen], their sons have all succeeded in cricket with long careers. People like Hylton and H.D. Ackerman and Trevor and Mike Madsen for Wayne too.

“It’s wonderful to be able to phone and congratulate them. It’s just such a pity that I couldn’t phone Tertius. But when there is no dad around, then you need a special teacher or coach to give the kid a chance. And because they lost their dad, Eathan and Corbin are big supporters of each other, and you could tell the pride of Eathan was massive on the side of the field.”

Interestingly, De Villiers said the styles of fast bowling employed by the two sons are very different to how Tertius Bosch used to bowl.

“Corbin has broad shoulders and a completely different action to Tertius, who had a massive whiplash effect. From a three metre run-up, he was still special, like Sylvester Clarke, Jofra Archer or Marchant de Lange, Tertius could still bowl at the speed of light.

“Guys like myself and the Bosch sons, we need a full run-up because we rely on momentum. Tertius played action [indoor]cricket and was the fastest in the country in that sport, he could break your ribs. He was the same sort of bowler as Sylvester Clarke, but quicker than him when they were both at Northerns,” De Villiers said.

South Africa’s two most iconic courses hosted their big events in December and winning scores of just five-under-par at Sun City and 13-under-par at Leopard Creek showed that they were excellent tests for the outstanding fields and the many international golfers included in them.

Johannes Veerman, an American who has campaigned mostly on the DP World Tour, prevailed in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Gary Player Country Club with an inspired 69 on the gruelling final day.

There was no respite from the searing heat and tough layouts the following week in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, with Shaun Norris also coming through the field, overcoming a six-shot deficit with a 67.

At Sun City, the prestige field had to contend with temperatures that reached 46° as well as the usual treacherous, shifting winds and nefarious pin-placements in the nooks of the clover-shaped greens. The heat was turned up even further in Malelane as a startling temperature of 50° was recorded on the second day, with irregular winds adding to the torment.

Romain Langasque tied for second in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, finishing one stroke behind Veerman after rounds of 70-70-73-71, and the fact that he was pretty chuffed to shoot around par indicated just how tough the conditions were.

“To shoot 70 is actually a very good score. If you shoot under-par here, you have played very well. The course plays very tough mostly because of the wind, which is constantly going anywhere, blowing one way and then completely the other direction. If you are just off the fairway, then it is very difficult to hit the green. You have to stay very patient, take a decision and see where the ball goes.

“The greens get firmer and firmer and it seems to just get tougher and tougher. Sometimes you will land in a very bad place, but that happens to everybody. Your attitude is so important,” Langasque said.

But the Frenchman also spoke about how wonderful the whole Sun City experience was.

“I’ve had good results in South Africa. But it’s not just about the golf, it’s the people too. There’s good food and a good hotel, the hospitality is something I really enjoy. So it’s a good week here, the course is always so unbelievable, but tough,” Langasque said.

Fit-again American star Will Zalatoris was delighted to finally make his Nedbank Golf Challenge debut, having first accepted an invite for the 2022 event but then getting injured. The 28-year-old spoke glowingly about the history of the tournament and how special walking on to the ninth green was with the plaques honouring all the previous winners decorating the pathway.

“I stay up late at night at home and watch this tournament, I’ve been doing it for a decade. So it’s special to play here for the first time, I was really upset to miss out previously because of my back surgery, it’s a tournament I’ve had circled on the calendar for a while.

“It’s Africa’s Major and the 18^th hole is the real deal with an awesome vibe all week, and I think it’s the toughest hole on the course. And the history of the tournament is special, you see all the past champions on the ninth green – that hole is my favourite – and that’s a really strong list with a lot of Hall-of-Famers,” Zalatoris said.

‘Stick to the fairways’ was also the mantra at Leopard Creek, according to Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult, who had to settle for a tie for second after shooting 74 on the last day.

“I enjoy playing this golf course and look forward to the challenge. I like what I see, most holes suit my eye, but some are very tough as well. It’s quite similar to Sun City in that you have to be on top of your game. There’s nowhere to hide, which is what I like, but some Leopard Creek holes do give you more of a margin for error.

“But there’s no way to bail out, you have to take on every shot. The greens are also slopey and they can tuck the pins like at Gary Player Country Club. It was tough out there, the wind was gusty and the temperature is more than 40°.

“But it’s a great course, it’s my first time here and I am really impressed. It’s even more important here to drive well, you’ve got to hit the ball straight, in the fairways, and then you can attack some pins, you expect some to be tucked; be in good positions in order to attack or even just to hit to the fat side of the green,” Kinhult said.

But a few extra minutes spent at the 13^th green, overlooking the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park, is enough to convince anyone that it will all be okay.

“It’s an amazing course, I’ve never played anywhere with a national park right on their doorstep. The 13^th green is something else with its hippos and crocs. We’re very lucky to get to play here.

“I’m a massive animals fan and there is wildlife everywhere in the park. We were able to see elephant, lion and leopard. We only get a pigeon and a crow at home!,” a delighted Alex Fitzpatrick said.