No team had ever successfully defended the T20 title in South Africa's domestic cricket history, and perhaps, the multiply Titans were keen to correct that record on Friday (December 16) as they edged the Warriors by six runs to win the CSA T20 challenge in Centurion. The bowlers collectively put up an impressive performance on the night despite skipper Albie Morkel's absence following his injury in the very first over of the chase.

Morkel injured his hamstring immediately after dismissing opener Clyde Fortuin for a duck and left the field. While Farhaan Behardien completed the over, all-rounder David Wiese took charge of the proceedings. Jon-Jon Smuts, the leading run-getter in the tournament, began in fine fashion as he hit a boundary each in the first two overs. Defending a modest 155, Titans knew that they had to get rid of in-form batsman in order to apply the pressure early on. And Wiese did exactly that as Smuts edged one behind. The batsman was tentative and wanted to leave the delivery but the ball took the outside edge and landed in the wicketkeeper's gloves.

Warriors appeared to have found momentum in the final over of the powerplay with Lungi Ngidi conceding five wides which was then followed by Colin Ingram hitting back-to-back boundaries. The bowler had the last laugh though with the left-hander edging one behind. Ingram had a nervy time out in the middle as the seamers found plenty of swing early on. With the rate also climbing up, Warriors couldn't afford to lose another wicket at that stage. Colin Ackermann and Christiaan Jonker steadied the ship to lead the recovery. Jonker in particular, was aggressive in his approach as he hit Tabraiz Shamsi for a four and a six to fetch 14 off his first over.

Jonker then had a reprieve in Shamsi's second over as he top-edged a sweep. With the ball traveling miles up in the air, it appeared certain that he would be out caught but the fielder Aiden Markram couldn't gather despite covering so much ground and getting both hands to the ball with a full-length dive.

Panic started to settle in the home side's camp after Ackermann smashed a six off Shamsi and was handed a life off the very next delivery with the short fine leg fielder dropping an easy chance. The left-arm spinner though got rid of the dangerman Jonker in the same over to revive the hopes. Qaasim Adams and Ackermann then gathered runs at a decent pace as the momentum shifted hands yet again. With 40 runs needed in the last five overs, Warriors were definitely the favourites considering the Titans couldn't avail Morkel's services as the skipper didn't take the field after departing early on.

The hopes appeared to dwindle as Adams reverse swept Shamsi to bring down the equation to 31 off 25. The 26-year-old then struck off his final delivery to keep his side alive in the contest. Warriors suffered a massive blow in the following over as Ackermann found the fielder at sweeper cover to depart for 34. The hopes then rested on Sisala Magala to get the Warriors past the finishing line but Titans bowled brilliantly at the death to hold their nerves. Malusi Siboto bowled a terrific final over and conceded only five runs.

It was definitely a chance that went begging for the Warriors as they were well in the contest for the most part of the game. In their bid to win the title for the second time in their history, they opted to bowl first in front of a packed Centurion and started off well with the ball. Even though Markram looked fluent, Jonathan Vandiar had an edgy outing with the bat and departed for a 16-ball 10.

Heinrich Klaasen began with a bang as he stepped out to hit a beautiful boundary through the covers to open his account. He then hit a massive six straight down the ground after surviving a close appeal for leg before wicket. Just when things were looking bright for the Titans, Ingram got rid of Klaasen for 18. Ackermann and Adams combined to take a superb catch at the boundary, a sight that we are used to seeing in recent times.

Titans were pegged further back when Markram departed in the following over for 33. Following his dismissal, the scoring rate took a beating as the hosts were left pondering if they should have sent the in-form Behardien at No.5 ahead of Heino Kuhn. With six overs left in the innings, Behardien finally made his way out to the middle but could muster only 11 runs. Boundaries were hard to come by as the Warriors bowled excellently at the death to deny any momentum to the defending champions. At one stage, it appeared as if the Titans would settle for 140 but a couple of streaky boundaries off Wiese's bat ensured they went past the 150-run mark, which proved to be very crucial in the end.

Brief scores: Titans 155/6 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 33, David Wiese 24*; Ayabulela Gqamane 1-8, BD Walters 1-15) beat Warriors 149/6 in 20 overs (Colin Ackermann 34, Christiaan Jonker 33; Lungi Ngidi 2-27, Tabraiz Shamsi 2-36) by six runs.