Must-win not a buzzword for Heat

MUST-WIN.

It has become the most common term chucked around Kingsmead in the past month. It has grown ever louder with each passing week, and it may well be at its loudest tonight.

There is the smallest of flickering hopes for the Durban Heat in the Mzansi Super League, but everything from this point onwards demands a victory. More than that, it has to be a victory with a bonus point. That has to be the aim from here onwards, with just four rounds of fixtures remaining.

The Heat have just one victory so far, and that is a trend they have to change very quickly. It can only be victories from this point, and they have to start their charge against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants. With a varied and experienced attack, including Chris Morris and Sisanda Magala’s pace, and the spin of Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso, the Giants constantly ask questions of any batting line-up.

They have seen first hand the vulnerabilities of the Heat, and they will try and expose those again.

On the batting front, Marco Marais and skipper Jon-Jon Smuts were brutal when the sides last met, but the Giants have gotten even stronger since then.

Jason Roy has swaggered into the fray, and he will add an explosive edge to the Giants’ top-order.

The English star will have a familiar face in the opposition, as he is very close to Heat opener Sarel Erwee.

All that will be put aside for this clash, however. The Heat have to put on their ruthless face, and hope that they have finally turned the corner.

Failing that, their tournament hopes will be well and truly over.

Must-win. It’s not a buzzword anymore. It’s a stark reality.