The action continued on at the Mzansi Super League 2019 in the fourth week as the Cape Town Blitz faced off against the Durban Heat at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa.
Durban Heat had been very unlikely so far in the league, with three of their five matches abandoned due to rain and having lost the other fixtures. They were in search of their first win when they took on the Cape Town Blitz.
The Blitz began the match on a strong note powered by a stellar knock from their highest scorer Janneman Malan, who scored a massive 75-run knock to help his side put a daunting total of 182 runs for the Durban Heat to chase for their first win.
After the Heat openers faltered at 24-2, Wilhan Lubbe and Dane Vilas put on a stable partnership with Vilas taking charge of the chase. Lubbe missed out on his half-century and got bowled at 49 but Vilas carried the team aptly supported by David Miller. Vilas finished with a match-winning knock of 75 runs to guide the Durban Heat to their first win of the MSL 2019 with three balls to spare.
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We take a look at three players who were impactful on the pitch tonight.
3. Janneman Malan (Cape Town Blitz)
The Cape Town Blitz opener carried on his consistent form through the MSL 2019 so far with a sturdy knock of 75 runs. He scored at a stupendous strike rate of 178.57 garnering 50 runs in boundaries with 2 fours and 7 sixes.
Malan helped the Blitz build a competitive total as they put up 181/5 but unfortunately his knock went in vain at the end.
2. Wihan Lubbe (Durban Heat)
Wihan Lubbe came on to the pitch during a time when the Durban Heat's struggles on the 22 yards had begun to crop up again with both their openers back in the pavilion.
However, Lubbe managed to quell the threat of the Blitz bowling attack of Dale Steyn, Wahab Riaz, and Sisanda Magala and pulled off a superb knock spread with classic strokeplay. He scored eight boundaries on his way to a 49, missing out unfortunately on a well-deserved half-century.
1. Dane Wilas (Durban Heat)
Dane Vilas was the key cornerstone of the Durban Heat's chase tonight and stabilized the innings after the openers had departed forming a partnership with Wihan Lubbe.
Vilas kept finding boundaries at timely intervals at a healthy strike rate of 144.23 as he scored the match-winning knock of 75 in 52 balls guiding the Heat to their first win of the Mzansi Super League 2019.
The Durban Heat face off against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants at home in Durban on 30 November whereas the Cape Town Blitz take on the Tshwane Spartans on 1st December in Cape Town.
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