Perth Scorchers displayed a distinct lack of sizzle in their Champions Trophy T20 cricket tournament opener as they crashed to a humbling 39-run loss to local South African side the Titans in Centurion early Sunday (AEDT).
Playing on their home ground, the Titans scored 4-163 after being sent in to bat by Scorchers skipper Marcus North.
Perth never seriously threatened to chase down the target, limping to 7-124, with only young gun Mitchell Marsh (52 not out off 41 balls) offering any sustained attacking resistance.
“We just left too much work for our middle order,” North said.
The Titans threatened to post a massive score after openers Jacques Rudolph (83 not out off 59) and Henry Davids (54 off 38) compiled a partnership of 109 off 12.2 overs.
Conversely, Perth managed just two fours and a six in their first 12 overs and endured a boundary drought of 32 balls. The Scorchers appeared to have bowled themselves back into the game by conceding just 11 runs off the last three overs of the Titans innings.
Nathan Rimmington (2-20), who gave up 15 runs in his first two overs, took 2-5 in his last two, grabbing wickets with successive deliveries and slowing the Titans with some classic blockhole death bowling.
Early on, their quicks were put to the sword by some swashbuckling strokes especially from Davids, who blasted four sixes.
Mitchell Marsh (0-26 off 2) and Ben Edmondson (0-32 off 2) were severely punished but spinners Brad Hogg (0-26 off 4) and Michael Beer (1-29 off 4) restored some order before Rimmington and Joe Mennie (1-29 off 4) turned the screw in the last three overs.
Perth’s chase stuttered in the fourth over when CJ de Villiers (3-16 off 4)) removed both Shaun Marsh (7 off 9) and North (0 off 1) to leave the Australian team at 2-17.
South African-born master blaster Herschelle Gibbs (19 off 19) perished to a horrid shot, while Simon Katich (23 off 28) tried hard to marshal some resistance.
Katich and Marsh apart, the middle order contributed little, with Luke Ronchi (9), Rimmington (3) and Rennie (0) all falling cheaply.
The Scorchers’ next game is early Thursday (AEDT) against India’s Kolkata Knight Riders.
