ISLAND STYLE - Pooran says MI CT star Jason Smith hits the ball like a West Indian

NICOLAS Pooran says fellow MI Cape Town star Jason Smith “hits the ball like a West Indian”. 

Smith wysed his incredible ball-striking skill by klapping a blitsvinnige 22 off seven balls to help MI CT beat Jozi Super Kings by four wickets on Tuesday. 

The win was the Cape-based team’s first of the campaign. 

Pooran, who scored 33 off 15 runs, said of Smith: “A lot of talent and potential there. 

“He hits the ball like a West Indian for sure (laughs). “There is a lot for him to learn as well. This is a T20 game and it is inconsistent. 

“We are going to get criticized a lot for performances, but for him the most important thing is to learn as fast as possible.” 

Pooran believes Smith will be a gevaarlike player for South Africa at the T20 World Cup in India next month. 

He added: “He’s just selected for the World Cup and heading into India where conditions would be really favourable to him where spin is going to be bowled. “He has everything that can make him do well in those conditions. Really happy to see him smashing it for us.” 

Pooran and coach Robin Peterson will be hoping Smith can smash them to victory over the Kings again when the two teams face off in the reverse fixture at the Wanderers tomorrow at 5.30pm. 

Their opponents are flying high after three wins from five, with Faf du Plessis and his teammates looking for revenge against the Kapenaars, who have only won one match out of six to date.