We preview the next three Mzansi Super League matches set to take place on 27 and 28 November.
The Mzansi Super League table is starting to take shape with the Cape Town Blitz and Nelson Mandela Bay Giants both well clear of the rest of the pack.
We get things back underway on Tuesday in Port Elizabeth where the Giants will take on the Blitz in a top of the table clash. Wednesday’s double-header sees the Tshwane Spartans and the Jozi Stars square off in an all-Gauteng affair before we head to Kingsmead where the Durban Heat and Paarl Rocks round off the day’s action.
Tuesday 27 November
To Win Match
Nelson Mandela Bay Giants 92/100
Tie 35/1
Cape Town Blitz 92/100
Few would have predicted that the Blitz and the Giants would be sitting pretty at the top of the table at this early juncture in the season. Many thought their squads would be too reliant on a sparse smattering of international talent. How wrong they were.
The hosts enjoyed a whirlwind weekend which saw them crush the Heat by nine wickets on Friday before profiting from DWS to defeat the Spartans on Sunday. The Giants have been excellent with ball in hand this season, with Jon-Jon Smuts and the seam trio of Ryan McLaren, Chris Morris and Junior Dala doing most of the damage, picking up four tournament wickets apiece. Morris’ form with the ball is particularly encouraging. He’s started hitting his line and length more consistently during this tournament, which is good news for the Proteas heading into 2019.
The visitors will be hoping for another big opening performance from Janneman Malan who leads the tournament scoring charts with 202 after five matches. His average of 40.40 and strike rate of 133.37 underline his importance at the top of the order for the Blitz. Andrich Nortje has led the way with the ball for the Cape Town franchise, picking up eight wickets in just three games, striking at an incredible 9.0. He’s also returned a very handy tournament economy rate of 6.91. They’ve not been overly reliant on these two, though with plenty of others chipping in with both bat and ball.
Verdict: Nelson Mandela Bay Giants 92/100
The Giants have the momentum here following their excellent showings against the Heat and the Spartans over the weekend. The Blitz may well have been knocked somewhat by their weekend defeat against the Rocks. Go with the side that has the momentum and back the hosts at 92/100.
Wednesday 28 November
To Win Match
Tshwane Spartans 92/100
Tie 35/1
Jozi Stars 92/100
The first ever Trans-Jukskei derby in the Mzansi Super League will see the Spartans host the Stars at Centurion in Wednesday’s early fixture. The Spartans sit rock-bottom of proceedings with one win from four. The Stars sit third, one point ahead of Wednesday’s opposition, indicating just how tight things are outside of the top two spots.
You feel that the Spartans aren’t a million miles away from hitting their straps, although with almost half of their regular season matches played already they need to get going sooner rather than later. They certainly have the personnel to beat the Stars, but whether or not all of them turn up for the fixture is another story. AB de Villiers has shown glimpses of his brilliance but hasn’t lit up the tournament as many thought he might. Even the very experienced seam trio of Rory Kleinveldt, Robbie Frylinck and Andrew Birch have struggled a bit. Jeevan Mendis (nine wickets) and Lutho Sipamla (seven wickets), as well as Gihahn Cloete (145 runs), have been excellent for the franchise. If a few more pieces fall into place, this side will rocket up the standings in the coming weeks.
The Stars have either blown ferociously hot – as was evidenced in their 60-run defeat of the Rocks – or woefully cold – as we saw when they were trounced by the Giants and the Blitz. They’ve got a wonderfully balanced squad that just hasn’t been able to follow up one good performance with another yet. Ryan Rickleton and Rassie van der Dussen will be key at the top of the order while Duane Olivier and Beuran Hendricks will have their work cut out for them a Centurion deck that tends to favour the batters. Expect another big showing from the evergreen Eddie Leie who has been arguably the competition’s best South African spinner.
Verdict: Tshwane Spartans 92/100
This should be a pretty high-scoring affair. If the fixture does indeed go that route, the Spartans should have the measure of their southern neighbours.
To Win Match
Durban Heat 92/100 *Forecast Odds
Tie 35/1
Paarl Rocks 92/100
We round off the Wednesday’s action down in Durban where the Heat will go up against the Rocks. You always worry about evening fixtures in Durban around this time of the year. Fortunately, Monday’s weather predictions indicate that we should get a full game in.
The big news coming out of the Heat’s camp is that Albie Morkel could miss the remainder of the tournament following an injury to his arm. Khaya Zondo – who has enjoyed an excellent tournament so far – will skipper in his absence. Zondo certainly has been the pick of the Heat’s batsmen, often coming in when the side is in a spot of bother and shoring things up after the top order has wobbled. Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk and Heinrich Klaasen have yet to come to party with the bat, but you’d bank on a big innings from one of the three sooner rather than later. Bowling wise, the Heat are in good shape. Kyle Abbott, Keshav Maharaj, Marchant de Lange, Vernon Philander and Tladi Bokako have all played well. Expect to see Brian Mavuta in the side in the absence of Morkel.
The Rocks were excellent last time out as they condemned the Blitz to their first defeat of the season. Bjorn Fontuin and Faf du Plessis were the heroes on the day. Fontuin got rid of the Blitz’s entire top order made up of Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock, Andile Phelukwayo and Farhaan Berhadien. They’d never recover from those four blows before Faf du Plessis (54) Vaughn van Jaarsveld (32) and Mangaliso Mosehle (28) reaching the 141-run target with seven balls remaining. How well the Paarl outfit’s talented top order fares against the Heat and their gun bowling attack will likely determine the outcome of this match.
Verdict: Durban Heat 92/100
This one is almost too close to call, although I’m leaning toward to Heat who are tipped to make home ground advantage count.
