Ken Borland

• Garmin Men’s Newcomer of the Year Award, here are the nominees,

• Joshua van Heerden – The 25-year-old Josh van Heerden was able to bank precious experience and notch personal milestones on his return to Pretoria this season. The top-order batter played in all three formats and reached his first century for the Momentum Multiply Titans when he scored an unbeaten 109 against the Tuskers in Pietermaritzburg, adding a record 252 for the first wicket with Matthew Kleinveldt. Van Heerden also scored his first T20 half-century for the Titans when he bashed 56 off 35 balls against the Dolphins.

• Merrick Brett – Merrick Brett has everything a coach wants to see in a young fast bowler – decent pace, the control to hit the good areas and hard lengths, bounce, and the ability to move the ball both ways. The 23-year-old took 12 wickets in four first-class matches for the Momentum Multiply Titans, including his brilliant five for 61 against the Dolphins at SuperSport Park.

• Lhuan-Dre Pretorius – Lhuan-Dre Pretorius moved smoothly from U19 cricket after an excellent Junior World Cup to the senior Momentum Multiply Titans ranks and he has shown enough in the CSA T20 Challenge to suggest he is going to play a big role in the franchise’s future. The 18-year-old is able to hit the ball ferociously hard, but is also able to score all around the field with sweetly-timed strokes that are most pleasing to the eye. He showed all those attributes in his 58 off 43 balls against the Tuskers at SuperSport Park and in his vital 52 off 32 balls in the de facto quarterfinal win over Western Province at Newlands. He has also kept wicket tidily.

• Garmin Men’s T20 Player of the Year, the nominees are:

• Rivaldo Moonsamy – It has been a wonderful season for the returning Rivaldo Moonsamy and he hit 428 runs at a strike-rate of 136.30 in the CSA T20 Challenge. He was the Momentum Multiply Titans’ leading run-scorer, averaging 30.57 and his two highlights were when he demolished the Lions attack with 88 off 52 balls at the Wanderers, and when he raced the Titans to a crucial bonus point victory against the Tuskers with 90 not out off just 41 deliveries at SuperSport Park.

• Sibonelo Makhanya – The experienced Sibonelo Makhanya was able to shine in the Momentum Multiply Titans’ middle-order with 348 runs at a strike-rate of 138.42, collecting three half-centuries along the way. As a seller of the T20 format as entertainment, Makhanya is one of the best, always bringing great urgency, quick running between the wickets and tremendous improvisation and skill to the crease, as well as being one of the best fielders in the competition.

• David Wiese – The evergreen David Wiese just keeps running in and delivering the goods with the ball. Despite playing just eight of the matches, he was the leading wicket-taker for the Momentum Multiply Titans with 17 at the near-superhuman average of just 9.29 runs per wicket, while conceding only 6.07 runs-per-over. Wiese took five for 29 against the Dolphins in Durban, his seventh five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, extending his world record. He may be 38, but clearly that motor’s still fine!

• The  Weber Men’s First-Class Player of the Year, the nominees in this category are,

• Junior Dala – The 34-year-old Junior Dala continues to bring high pace, aggression and ever-growing skill to the Momentum Multiply Titans attack, never mind his athletic fielding and useful runs down the order. Dala was the team’s leading wicket-taker in the four-day competition, taking 23 in just four matches at an excellent average of only 22.47. The highlight came when he took six for 58, and nine wickets in the match, against the Lions at SuperSport Park, in a valiant effort to bowl the Titans into the final.

• Rivaldo Moonsamy – It was a triumphant return to the Momentum Multiply Titans for Rivaldo Moonsamy in 2023/24 as he hit two centuries and two half-centuries in amassing 536 runs in the first-class competition, the team’s highest tally. It was Moonsamy’s dazzling 124 that turned the Titans’ fortunes around in their thrilling win over the Warriors, and he also scored 130 against the Dolphins, adding a record 209 for the sixth wicket with Dean Elgar. He also hit eight sixes in an innings of 98 off 72 balls against the Dragons.

• Dean Elgar – Titans stalwart Dean Elgar played just four matches in the four-day series but still managed to score over 400 runs and collect two centuries. The tenacious left-hander averaged 60.28, to finish third in the tournament averages. Elgar started the season with a tremendously determined 119 not out that took his team to a testing fourth-innings target of 257 against the Rocks in Paarl, and then he made 149 the next week against the Dolphins at SuperSport Park.

• Powerade Men’s One-Day Player of the Year, here are the nominees,

• Dean Elgar – Before his great efforts in the first-class competition, Dean Elgar regaled us with some spectacular form in the One-Day Cup. He scored 324 runs in just six innings at an average of 81 and an impressive strike-rate of 94.18. That tally included three centuries, all of which led to Momentum Multiply Titans wins: He stroked 103 off 99 balls against the Rocks to set up a total of 380 for seven; and then in back-to-back matches scored 100 not out and shared a 232-run partnership with Donovan Ferreira, the best for the fifth wicket in the history of the competition, to take the Titans to a target of 273, and 119 not out off 126 deliveries in a total of 355 for six against the Tuskers.

• Donovan Ferreira – The big-hitting Donovan Ferreira hammered 353 runs in seven innings, at an average of 58.83 and a strike-rate of 137.35 for the Momentum Multiply Titans in the One-Day Cup, ensuring we almost always had a phenomenal end to our innings. He sent 18 sixes sailing into the crowd during the competition, more than anyone else. Included in his tally were two fifties and a spectacular century when the Titans were in deep trouble against the Dolphins, on 41 for four chasing 273. He slammed 138 not out off just 106 balls, adding an unbeaten 232 with Dean Elgar, the highest-ever fifth-wicket stand in the history of the competition. Ferreira also chipped in with six wickets with his off-spin, giving away just five runs an over.

• Dewald Brevis – Dewald Brevis, who has just turned 21 – Congratulations! – showed that he will be a batsman for all situations in one-day cricket as he scored 372 runs in seven innings for the Momentum Multiply Titans, averaging 53.14 and striking at 97.89. His two centuries were contrasting efforts: Brevis made 100 off only 80 balls against the Dragons, and also scored 116 off 118 deliveries, out of a total of 217, the Titans having lost their first three wickets with just one run on the board, against Western Province.

• The Weber Men’s Player of the Year, the nominees are:

• Rivaldo Moonsamy – After two seasons away, Rivaldo Moonsamy certainly did not sell himself short upon his return to the Momentum Multiply Titans, being their leading run-scorer in both the four-day and T20 competitions. He averaged an impressive 48.72 against the red ball, scoring 536 runs which included two hundreds and two fifties and was the Titans’ Men’s First-Class Player of the Year. He was brilliant in the T20 competition as well, always entertaining at the crease as he lashed 428 runs at a strike-rate of 136.30.

• Dean Elgar – It was another prolific summer with the bat for Dean Elgar as he hit five centuries in 14 innings for the Momentum Multiply Titans across both the 50-over and four-day competitions. It did not matter whether he was opening the batting or coming in at number four, Elgar was immense with 746 runs across the two tournaments at an average of 67.81. He was the Titans’ Men’s One-Day Player of the Year.

• Dewald Brevis – It has been a brilliant first full season for the Momentum Multiply Titans for Dewald Brevis as he has contributed important runs for the team across all three formats. In first-class cricket, he scored 447 runs at an average of 40.63, with two centuries, 113 in a victory over the Dragons in Potchefstroom and 110, his maiden four-day hundred, in the thrilling win over the Warriors. His 372 runs in seven innings, averaging 53.14 and striking at 97.89, including another two centuries, saw Brevis nominated for the Men’s One-Day Player of the Year award. He only played three T20 games for the Titans, but struck at 150 and raced to 50 off 29 balls against the powerful Warriors side.

Professionalisation of the Women’s game

Women’s cricket continues to enjoy significant growth in South Africa and the evolution of the game reached another milestone in the 2023/24 season with the professionalisation of the domestic game.

For the first time, 11 professional contracts were awarded to the leading ladies of the Fidelity Titans squad, as well as the appointment of full-time support staff such as strength-and-conditioning coaches and physiotherapists.

It was no coincidence that the standards of play would quickly go to new heights and our Fidelity Titans were one of the strongest teams in the country, finishing fourth in both the One-Day Cup and T20 League.

Established Proteas such as Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus and Laura Wolvaardt have combined with up-and-coming stars such as newly-capped Protea Eliz-Mari Marx, Katherine Prior, Robyn Searle, Gandhi Jafta and Paulinah Mashishi to make for a most convivial camp.

SuperSport Park and Titans cricket have always been at the forefront of chasing excellence in the women’s game. The stadium hosted the 2005 Women’s World Cup final between Australia and India, with the Aussies storming to a 98-run win.

The appointment of Karen Smithies, who captained England to the 1993 World Cup title, to the managerial staff of the Titans has also boosted the ladies game considerably.

All-rounder Smithies played against the first South African women’s team to tour a major nation, on the trip to England in 1997 under coach Conrad Hunte. The Proteas played at Lord’s – where Smithies took three for 15 to set up an England win – and a couple of the matches were televised.

The women’s game has since exploded with a rapid increase in support. In 2020, 86 000 spectators watched the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when Australia again beat India.

South Africa’s rise in women’s cricket continued when they reached the final of the 2023 T20 World Cup, hosted in Cape Town, pushing Australia hard in front of thousands of enthralled spectators.

The Titans have a firm vision that men’s and women’s cricket should be viewed and treated equally and have made much progress towards this noble goal.

Our DP World Lions made sure they will host Sunday’s CSA T20 Challenge final with a commanding win over the Momentum Multiply Titans in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, claiming victory in their semi-final by a sizeable eight wickets with 20 balls to spare.

The #PrideOfJozi continued the great form that carried them to the top of the log after the round-robin stage, overwhelming the Titans with the control and skill of their bowling, and then racing to victory with a powerful batting display. Having successfully converted first place in the standings to a home final at the DP World Wanderers Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Lions will now face either the Dolphins or the Warriors, who play in Durban on Thursday night in the other semi-final.

Having won the toss, the DP World Lions took to the field first and immediately bossed the Titans. The visitors could only score 38 for one in the powerplay and a 20-minute delay to restore a floodlight did not break the momentum.

If anything, it saw the DP World Lions come back out with even more intent and ruthlessness, as they claimed the next eight Titans wickets for just 87 runs. Our chief hero was once again young leg-spinner Nqaba Peter, one of the finds of the domestic season, as he ripped through the Titans middle-order, taking four for 18 in his four overs.

The 21-year-old Peter has now taken 19 wickets in the campaign, at a ridiculously good average of just 7.78, while conceding only 5.19 runs per over. Another one of our exciting younger players, Codi Yusuf, was also excellent, taking two for 25 in his four overs.

With the match reduced to 18 overs-a-side due to the delay, the Titans finished on a meagre 131 for nine. The DLS recalculation meant our target was 134 in 18 overs.

Ryan Rickelton continued to pursue the leading run-scorer’s title as he struck a punishing 38 off 26 balls, his only boundaries being three large sixes, but the real slaughter came from the bat of Rassie van der Dussen.

The DP World Wanderers became a massacre site for the bowlers as the experienced Proteas star powered his way to a fiery 73 not out off just 45 balls, with eight fours and a six. He added 85 off 53 deliveries for the second wicket with Rickelton, and then Temba Bavuma (19* off 13) was out in the middle with him when the match was won, adding an unbeaten 46 off 31 balls for the third wicket.

Yusuf and Wiaan Mulder had earlier removed Titans openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius (8) and Rivaldo Moonsamy (24), with Peter coming on in the ninth over and immediately spinning his web.

The experienced Sibonelo Makhanya (6) was beaten in the flight and bowled trying to sweep, and then in his third over, Peter removed Neil Brand (7) and David Wiese (0) with successive deliveries. Brand was caught top-edging a sweep, Bavuma making plenty of ground to take a brilliantly-judged running catch at midwicket, while Wiese failed to spot the googly and was comprehensively bowled.

Corbin Bosch (9), hitting out ambitiously but in vain, then became Peter’s fourth and final victim, Yusuf taking a very composed catch on the cow-corner boundary. It is the second time this season the youngster who bowls brisk leg-spin with great variations has picked up four wickets in an innings.

Having performed brilliantly for a bonus point win over the Warriors in Gqeberha, a home semi-final now beckons for the DP World Lions men’s team if they can beat the Momentum Multiply Titans in their CSA T20 Challenge match in Centurion on Friday.

Our Pride were superb in hammering the Warriors by 43 runs at St George’s Park on Wednesday night, the bonus point seeing them overtake the long-time log-leaders at the top of the standings. The DP World Lions now have 40 points from their nine wins in 12 matches, one point ahead of the Eastern Province side.

Victory at SuperSport Park on Friday night will take the #PrideOfJozi to at least 44 points, which means whatever the other results in the last two rounds of fixtures, the DP World Lions will be guaranteed to finish in the top two of the CSA T20 Challenge. They finish off the round-robin campaign against the Tuskers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Sent in to bat in conditions that were not easy for strokeplay, the DP World Lions did well to cobble together a total of 152 for nine against the Warriors. Opener Ryan Rickelton led the way with his determined, well-judged 52 off 38 balls. His fourth half-century of the campaign was enough for him to become the leading run-scorer in the competition with 378 in 10 innings for an average of 47.25, at an excellent strike-rate of 144.82.

Rickelton was well-supported by fellow opener Reeza Hendricks, who stroked 31 off 23 balls as they gave the DP World Lions an excellent start by putting on 58 in the powerplay.

Rassie van der Dussen, with a run-a-ball 17, then added 40 for the second wicket with Rickelton in five-and-a-half overs, but wickets then fell in the 12^th, 13^th and 15^th overs as our Pride slipped to 106 for four.

Two more wickets then fell in the 17^th over, another in the 19^th and then the DP World Lions lost both Evan Jones and Nqaba Peter to the last two balls of the innings.

But in between that clatter of wickets, you have to give credit to the batsmen for still keeping the scoreboard ticking over on a very dry, slow pitch.

Jones led the way with his 12 off just nine deliveries, but Mitchell van Buuren, Bjorn Fortuin and Lutho Sipamla all collected important boundaries in the closing overs and scored at at least a run-a-ball.

Sipamla was hit for a four and a six off successive deliveries by Warriors captain Matthew Breetzke, but then struck back by having the young dasher caught at mid-off, and wonderful spinner Fortuin (4-0-12-1) then deceived Andile Mogakane and sharp work by Rickelton behind the wicket saw him stumped for a duck as the Pride made a good start with the ball.

Mulder then showed why we are so fortunate to have an all-rounder of his quality in the team as he came on and made two hammer blows in his first two overs, trapping Jiveshan Pillay lbw and then taking a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Jordan Hermann.

With Jones chipping in with the wicket of Sinethemba Qeshile, we were in firm control with the Warriors 36 for five. Spinner Junaid Dawood (4-0-33-1) also contributed by bowling Patrick Kruger with his slider, while Jones (3.1-0-17-2) also dismissed the dangerous Beyers Swanepoel, Mulder taking a fantastic running catch in the outfield.

Mulder then returned and also claimed the wickets of Liam Alder, a former Lions player, and Siya Simetu to finish with magnificent career-best figures of four for 14 in his four overs.

The Warriors’ last wicket also fell to a run out, thanks to good work by Van Buuren, as they were dismissed for 109 in the final over.

Like bumper cars spinning and bashing into each other, the Northerns Titans and the Central Gauteng Lions went head-to-head in a crazy Jukskei Derby at SuperSport Park on Friday night, their thrilling CSA T20 Challenge clash ending in a last-ball victory for the home side.

Chasing a moderate 155 for victory, the Titans looked well on course when they reached 105 for four after 14 overs. But the leg-spin of Nqaba Peter and the hit-the-deck seam of Evan Jones saw them each take a pair of late wickets for the Lions to set up a nailbiting conclusion, especially with so much riding on the game.

If the Lions had won, they would have been guaranteed a home semi-final and probably a home final as well because, with the Warriors being shocked by the North-West Dragons in Potchefstroom, victory for them would have given them a five-point lead at the top of the standings with just Sunday’s round to play.

For the Titans, the win keeps them in fourth place, but now just three points ahead of Western Province, who beat the Boland Rocks by a bonus point in Paarl. So Sunday’s match between great rivals Northerns and WP at Newlands is to decide the last semi-final place. The Dolphins beat the Tuskers with a bonus point in the battle of the KwaZulu-Natal sides in Durban and can still finish in the top two if they beat the Warriors on Sunday.

Corbin Bosch was the hero for the Titans on Friday night, walloping 19 not out off 14 balls to see them home by two wickets; Reeza Hendricks was the villain for the Lions as he missed a routine stop at long-off in the penultimate over, conceding a boundary when it should only have been a single. The normally reliable boundary fielder seemed to want to let the ball bounce one more time and to his horror it squirmed between his legs and over the line.

That left Northerns with 10 runs to get off the final over, bowled by Codi Yusuf (4-0-25-1). A meaty pull for four by Bosch broke the back of the task, but they still needed a single off the last ball to win. Yusuf did his job by beating Bosch outside off-stump, but he and Lungi Ngidi managed to run a bye as both wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton and the bowler missed their throws at the stumps.

Wiaan Mulder had earlier had some car-crash moments of his own in the field, as he dropped a tough chance from opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over, and then conceded a boundary when the ball went through his legs.

But he came back excellently with the ball, conceding just 24 runs in his four overs and getting the wicket of Pretorius for a run-a-ball 29.

The Lions fielding also went through a magnificent patch when the in-form Rivaldo Moonsamy (24 off 15) was run out by a direct hit from point by Temba Bavuma, and Jack Lees (5) was run out by Jones. The visitors probably should have had a third run out when Jones scored another direct hit early in Neil Brand’s innings, but the TV umpire ruled not out even though replays suggested the Titans captain had his bat on the line but not over it.

Brand scored 29 off 27 balls, adding 34 for the fifth wicket with Dayyaan Galiem (26 off 12) to steer the game the Titans’ way. But then they were derailed by Peter (4-0-29-2) crashing through the attacking strokes of Galiem and David Wiese, bowling both of them in the 15^th over.

Jones eventually had Brand caught at deep extra cover and then Junior Dala (8) at deep backward square-leg in the 18^th over, but Bosch sent the ball whizzing off his bat and to the boundary three times in the closing overs to win the race to the line.

Earlier, the Central Gauteng side had been sent in to bat and found it difficult to accelerate as they posted 154 for eight, which seemed no more than par. Wiese once again shone with the ball with one for 22 in his four overs, while Galiem was also brilliant with one for 20 in four.

Hendricks and Bavuma (21 off 13) added 46 off 32 deliveries for the third wicket, and Hendricks went on to score a pugnacious 44 off 33 balls with four fours and a six. There were also useful contributions from Mulder (25 off 22) and Delano Potgieter (21 off 15). But, having added 29 off 20 balls, Potgieter was run out when Mulder called him through for a bye and the 18-year-old wicketkeepr Pretorius threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Potgieter had already hit a couple of sixes and who knows how many more runs he would have added. The Lions tried to run a bye and it proved a costly mistake; the Titans did the same off the last ball of the match and it worked.

And that’s how narrow the margins were in this dramatic derby clash.