Cape Town Blitz has won their two opening matches of this year’s Mzansi Super League on the weekend.
After getting the better of Tshwane Spartans in the tournament’s first match at Newlands on Friday, coach Ashwell Prince’s team also beat Durban Heat away from home on Sunday.
The stars for the Cape-based team, though, were their foreign imports from Pakistan.
On Friday night, it was Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Nawaz that stole the show against AB de Villiers’ team, smashing 59 off 37 balls.
Local wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne wasn’t going to be left behind and smacked an unbeaten 53 off 34 balls as Blitz posted a mammoth 180/4 in their 20 overs.
Despite De Villiers’ fighting knock of 59, the Spartans fell 49 runs short of their hosts’ total.
On to Durban, it was for the Capetonians on Sunday.
And after their hosts scored 157/7, with returning Proteas speedster Dale Steyn getting smacked for 45 runs in his four overs, Blitz had some real difficulty chasing down the winning score in a thrilling match.
This despite another Pakistan star Asif Ali hitting the top score in the tournament to date.
Ali, coming in at No.4, hit five sixes and seven fours in his total of 80 off just 33 balls.
He didn’t enjoy much support from his teammates, with opener Janneman Malan being Blitz’s next best batsman with a knock of 31 as they were troubled by Proteas stars Keshav Maharaj (3/24) and Marchant de Lange (2/36).
In the end, Blitz got to the winning score with three wickets left in the bank and five balls left to play.
MZANSI SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS
Cape Blitz v Tshwane Spartans
Blitz – 180/4 (Mohammad Nawaz 59 and Kyle
Verreynne 53*; Andrew Birch 2/39 and Robbie Frylinck 1/34).
Spartans – 131 (AB de Villiers 59 and Dean Elgar 32; Ferisco Adams 3/28 and Dane Piedt 1/15).
Blitz win by 49 runs.
Jozi Stars v Nelson Mandela Bay Giants
Stars – 124/7 (Dane Vilas 38* and Rassie van der Dussen 23; Ryan McLaren 2/22 and Jon-Jon Smuts 3/20).
Giants – 127/5(Ben Duckett 75 and Rudi Second 15*; Eddie Leie 2/25 and Beauran Hendricks 2/13).
Giants win by five wickets.
Durban Heat v Cape Blitz
Heat – 157/5 (Khaya Zondo 49* and Albie Morkel 45; Anrich Nortje 4/32 and Ferisco Adams 1/32).
Blitz – 158/7 (Asif Ali 80 and Janneman Malan 31; Keshav Maharaj 3/24 and Marchant de Lange 2/36).
Blitz win by three wickets.
Paarl Rocks v Tshwane Spartans
Spartans – 203/5 (Gihan Cloete 80 and Theunis de Bruyn 66; Dwayne Bravo 3/31 and Dane Paterson 2/45).
Rocks – 202/6 (Cameron Delport 73 and Vaughn van Jaarsveld 22; Jeevan Mendis 2/35 and Lutho Sipamla 1/37).
Spartans win by one run