The equation is simple for the Titans‚ they must beat the Cobras in their last round robin match of the Momentum One Day Cup on Thursday afternoon at SuperSport Park in Centurion and a home final next week Friday is theirs.
To achieve this mission‚ the Pretoria side must negotiate their way past the potentially dangerous Cobras‚ who will only be playing for pride as they are out of the running for honours.
Cobras go into this clash stranded at the foot of the table after nine matches.
They have only managed three wins and their coach Ashwell Prince has urged his charges to at least finish the campaign with a flourish.
“We need a few inspirational performances to avoid the wooden spoon‚" lamented Prince‚ who will be going all out to spoil the night for his former Proteas team-mate and Titans coach Mark Boucher.
- AB de Villiers' return boosts Titans' Momentum ODI final hopesThe Titans have been massively boosted by the availability of Proteas batting superstar AB de Villiers and all-rounder Chris Morris for the remainder of the Momentum One Day Cup campaign.
"One of the reasons we find ourselves on 12 points after nine matches and at the bottom is that the team has not responded well when their opponents blasted 300 runs.”
Titans go into the match as hot favourites as they have won their last three matches against the Warriors‚ Dolphins and Lions.
This run has propelled them to the top of the standings and they have premier batsman AB de Villiers and all-rounder Chris Morris in their arsenal.
In their first appearance of the season‚ De Villiers and Morris dazzled as the Titans comprehensively thrashed the Warriors by seven wickets to win at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday.
“I got excited when the ball was swinging‚ especially both ways‚" he said.
- Titans smash highest OD score in SA‚ Markram gets biggest scoreThe Titans smashed a number of South African domestic one day records during their 169-run‚ bonus-point demolition of the Lions in the Momentum One Day Cup clash at Wanderers Stadium on Friday.
"I had nice rhythm‚ but I was not happy with the extras.
"I am just happy to have contributed to a winning cause.
"We still have to win the match on Thursday against the Cobras so that we can achieve a home final and then go on to win that final.”
In the other matches scheduled for Thursday‚ Warriors are at home to the Lions at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth while the Knights visit the Dolphins Kingsmead Stadium in Durban with both matches starting at 2pm.
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport
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