After months of preparation and planning, the Mzansi Super League is finally here.
And the Mother City will be treated to the first-ever game of the tournament when a Farhaan Behardien-led Cape Blitz will cross swords with captain AB de Villiers and his Tshwane Spartans on Friday night at 7 pm.
The month-long slogfest sees six teams – Blitz, Spartans, Paarl Rocks, Nelson Mandela Giants, Durban Heat and Jozi Stars – do battle, with some of the biggest names in the game on display.
Behardien and Blitz, who also have Proteas superstar Dale Steyn in their squad, will play two matches this weekend.
After hosting the Spartans, they travel to Durban to complete the doubleheader on Sunday against veteran Albie Morkel and his Durban Heat spanmaats.
Blitz will have to hit the ground running without pace spearhead Steyn, who will not be involved in the opening games after just returning from international duty from Australia.
SHOWTIME: JP Duminy and Dane Paterson
Already without captain JP Duminy who underwent shoulder surgery and was named as the team’s official ambassador, Blitz currently also have big-hitting Proteas ace Quinton de Kock and allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo unavailable.
The duo will complete their national duty with the Proteas in today’s one-off T20I against Australia.
Friday night’s match, though, is not the only one for Cape cricket fans to enjoy live this weekend.
At Boland Park, Henry Davids and his Paarl Rocks teammates will play their first match of the tournament against the Spartans on Sunday at 3.30 pm.
As for Rocks, they will enter the match against the Spartans on Sunday without Protea star Aiden Markram but will look to T20 yster Dane Paterson to give them the edge on the bowling front.
The battle between Spartans captain AB de Villiers and Paterson, who is one of the best T20 bowlers in the country, should make for particularly interesting viewing.
Weekend fixtures
Friday
Cape Town Blitz v Tshwane Spartans (7 pm)
Saturday
Jozi Stars v Nelson Mandela Bay Giants (7 pm)
Sunday
Durban Heat v Cape Town Blitz (11 am)
Paarl Rocks v Tshwane Spartans (3.30 pm)