Staff Reporter.
Tabraiz Shamsi took a hat-trick as the Northerns Titans thrashed the KZN Dolphins by six wickets in the first T20 Challenge semi-final at St George’s Park on Friday.
The Proteas spinner had Ruan de Swardt caught for 10 off the fifth ball of his first over and bowled Bryce Parsons with his next delivery.
Shamsi then completed his hat-trick by bowling Andile Phehlukwayo with the first ball of his second over.
At that stage, the Dolphins were 27-6 in the 10th over, and that they were ultimately able to post 93-8 in 20 overs was down to the efforts of Khaya Zondo (33), Eathan Bosch (12) and Prenelan Subrayen (13*).
However, it was never going to be enough, even when Titans opener Quinton de Kock was bowled for a first-ball duck.
Theunis de Bruyn hit 18 off 12 balls and Dewald Brevis top-scored with 38 off 30, before Sibonelo Makhanya (18* off 11) helped finish off the Dolphins with 5.5 overs remaining.
Meanwhile Pieter and Janneman Malan led the Gbets Rocks to an emphatic, seven-wicket victory against Western Cape rivals Six Gun Grill Western Province and a place in the CSA T20 Challenge final which will take place at St.George’s Park in Gqberha on Sunday.
A four-wicket haul from Rocks fast bowler Ziyaad Abrahams and excellent work from the rest of the bowling attack saw WP dismissed for just 118 in 19.5 overs before the Malan brothers galloped to a century opening partnership victory with almost embarrassing ease to take their team to the brink of victory.
The Rocks will play the Momentum Multiply Titans in the final on Sunday after their comprehensive six-wicket victory against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins in the morning semifinal.