Paarl Rocks will travel to the Wanderers on Friday at 7 pm hoping to get one over the Jozi Stars in an effort to book an all-Cape Mzansi Super League final.
The winner of the only semifinal in the tournament will cross bats with Cape Town Blitz in Sunday’s first MSL final at Newlands (3.30 pm).
Here we look at the danger men that will look to swing the semi in favour of their respective teams on Friday night.
Faf du Plessis (Rocks)
The Rocks skipper has led from the front this season, scoring four half-centuries in his eight knocks to add to a grand total of 318 runs.
Du Plessis is in red-hot form with a batting average of 53 at a strike rate of 157.
SOLID AS A ROCK: Skipper Faf. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
He is fifth on the overall run-scorers list and with a best of 76 not out, Du Plessis is still in search of only his second T20 hundred. And this will be the perfect time for him to get to three figures.
Rassie van der Dussen (Stars)
The tournament’s leading run-scorer with 410 runs.
With three half-centuries to his name, Van der Dussen’s best was a knock of 96*, which he hit off only 44 balls in their last match against Tshwane Spartans to book Stars’ spot in the semis.
He is a man in destructive form, having also hit the most sixes in the MSL (22), and a man with a point to prove.
Reeza Hendricks (Stars)
With Chris Gayle’s MSL a thing of the past, Stars have looked to Hendricks to give them the big runs at the top of the order.
And he answered their call, smashing back-to-back centuries before missing out on what would have been a historic trio when he only managed 79 against Blitz earlier in the tournament.
Only three sixes behind Van der Dussen with 19, Hendricks is the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 379 runs at an average of 63.
CONSISTENCY: Hendricks. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
Rocks will have to remove him quickly if they are to stand a chance of winning this match.
Dwayne Bravo (Rocks)
West Indian allrounder Dwayne Bravo has been devastating in the five-match he’s played for the Paarl outfit.
Bravo has taken 10 wickets at a remarkable average of 14.3.
Mixing up his deliveries is his greatest strength and he will be looking to outwit the likes of Van der Dussen and Hendricks instead of getting rid of them with sheer pace.
READY TO ROCK: West Indian allrounder Dwayne Bravo. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi will also be one of the Rocks’ biggest threats with ball in hand.
Duanne Olivier (Stars)
Speedster Olivier is in fine form heading into the Proteas’ Test series against Pakistan.
He’s been the pick of the bowlers in the MSL, claiming 18 wickets at an average of 12.88.
SPEED DEMON: Duanne Olivier has been brilliant for Stars. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
Along with Kagiso Rabada, the Rocks will have to be at their best not to get beaten by pace in this encounter.